Violent motorcyclists attacked some Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) over the seizure of some motorcycles belonging to some ‘Okada-ban’ violators, with the timely intervention of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command dissipating the crisis.
The aggrieved motorcyclists, at about 7 pm, took to the streets in their numbers, attacking pedestrians and motorists and vandalizing vehicles.
News Diet gathered that they headed down to the Durumi Divisional Police Headquarters to obstruct the VIO from taking the seized motorcycles handed over to them by the police for screening.
The motorcyclists also burnt some tyres on the roads during the protest.
An eyewitness who claimed to have escaped the attack by the errant motorcyclists by the whiskers told our correspondent that his car bonnet was vandalised.
The eyewitness who identified himself simply as Aminu, said, “My car bonnet was destroyed, and I only hope that they haven’t destroyed my windscreen. I escaped the attack by chance, and I’ve been terrified since the incident took place.
“The bike men took over the Area 1 Expressway, vandalising people’s cars and beating people up.”
Responding to the incident in a statement, Tuesday night, the FCT Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, said there was no casualty contrary to reports of alleged killing of motorcyclists by the police.
Adeh added that the police were able to curb the situation on time, dispersing the violent motorcyclists.
The statement reads, “Following the ban of motorcycles in some parts of the FCT by the FCTA, the FCT Command, having held several meetings with the various heads of motorcycle units across the Territory, activated an enforcement exercise at the various Divisional and Area Commands among others.
“Today, Tuesday, 26th of July, 2022, some motorcycles numbering about 20 were seized by operatives of the Durumi Divisional Police Headquarters who were on enforcement round from commercial motorcyclists who violated the ban.
“The motorcycles were taken to the Division and subsequently handed over to the VIO for screening.
“However, upon sighting the VIO officials at the Police Division, the errant motorcyclists in their numbers decided to obstruct the VIO from moving out of the station and started attacking the officers, leading the police to swing into action to disperse the violent motorcyclists who took to the street to express their displeasure.
“Meanwhile, no life was lost nor properties damaged, and normalcy has since been restored. The Command, however, urges members of the public not to panic, but go about their lawful businesses while monitoring of the area and surveillance continues.”
However, there are concerns that the matter may not have been completely addressed as some aggrieved motorcyclists were gathering under a bridge at the Area 1 area of the FCT at about 10:30 pm, last night.