Our protest was hijacked by hoodlums says Commercial  tricycles owners and ridders Chairperson 

By Golok Nanmwa, Jos

Chairman of the Amalgamated Commercial Tricycles owners and ridders  Assocation of Nigeria in Plateau State Adullahi Sarki on Tuesday  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. 

count | 112

Our protest was hijacked by hoodlums says Commercial  tricycles owners and ridders Chairperson