Adullahi Sarki, the Chairman of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycles owners and ridders
Assocation of Nigeria in Plateau State, on Tuesday
said they regretted that their protest which was meant to be peaceful was
hijacked by hoodlums on Monday .
Sarki who spoke to our Correspondent on phone lamented the incident
that occurred on Monday, stressing that he is currently in talk with
his members and the state government.
He said his members are peace makers, most of our members stayed at
home on Monday, but it’s rather unfortunate that the protest which was
meant to be peaceful turned out the way it is, I put it to you that the
protest was hijacked by hoodlums,.
It is so unfortunate that the protest was hijacked he further added .
Our Correspondent reports that Tricycle riders on Monday allegedly
burnt down a patrol vehicle and injured six personnel of the Plateau
command of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC ) in Jos.
Mr Andrew Bala, the command’s Public Education Officer, confirmed the incident to our reporter in Jos.
The tricycle riders had occupied major streets of Jos protesting
alleged extortion by officers and men of the commission and state
Vehicle Inspection Office.
According to Bala, the protesters visited the Bauchi ring road unit
command where they beat up officers on duty and vandalised the building.
“They burnt one of our patrol vehicles, vandalised another and
destroyed a lot of valuables at our office premises on Bauchi ring road.
“They also vandalised eight other vehicles in the office premises and some at a mechanic workshop close to the office.
“In our bid to resist the act, six of our personnel were badly injured,” Bala said.
Our Correspondent reports that inorder to forestall any break down
of law and order, the Plateau State government swiftly suspended the
operations of commercial tricycles popularly called Keke Napep on the
Jos Bukuru metropolis till further notice .
This was contained in a statement signed by Cornelius Shoibail the
Permanent secretary cabinet and special services and made available to
newsmen in Jos on Monday
It reads that Plateau State government has observed with dismay the
way Keke Napep operators have taken law into their hands in Jos
Metropolis.
In view of this government has suspended their operations in Jos
Bukuru metropolis till further notice commencing from Monday 26th
February 2018
The general public are hereby advised to go about their lawful business and security operatives are to take note.
By Golok Nanmwa, Jos