The Task Force established by the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) to enforce the prohibition on commercial motorcycle operations in specific districts of Abuja battled yesterday with commercial motorcycle operators, also known as Okada.
On the Airport Road, adjacent to Dunamis Church, demonstrators lit bonfires, which impeded traffic.
Although the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command claims to have brought the region back to peace, it nevertheless issues a warning that damaging public property is still a crime.
The blockade spread fear throughout the city, causing drivers to take detours and travel against the flow of traffic.
Numerous motorcyclists allegedly caused mayhem, threatened, and insulted drivers, according to an eyewitness.
According to the eyewitness, “Thank God for my life. On Lugbe road, there was a heavy protest going on-throwing of stones and burning of tyres. We managed to scale through. They gathered on the side of the road that leads to town, not far from the Glory Dome of Dunamis Church.”
However, the FCT Police Command said it has restored normalcy in the area.
A statement issued by the Command said monitoring and surveillance continued on the scene while efforts were ongoing to arrest miscreants responsible for the disturbance of public peace.
“Today, at about 11:30 a.m., reports of civil unrest broke out around the Airport expressway near Gosa Market in the FCT. The incident, which attracted many false narratives, was merely an uncultured display of dissatisfaction by commercial motorcycle riders popularly called Okada, who took to the streets burning tires and other substances following the activities of the Task Force who had earlier confiscated some motorcycles for certain violations.
“Upon the receipt of the information, police operatives from Iddo Divisional Police Headquarters were swiftly drafted to the scene where necessary measures were taken to restore peace and normalcy to the situation.
“Consequent upon the above, members of the public are urged to eschew fake news or contrary narratives and to go about the discharge of their lawful businesses without the fear of harassment or molestation of any kind or from any quarters.”
The statement issued by the command said the monitoring and surveillance continue on the scene while efforts were ongoing to arrest miscreants responsible for the disturbance of public peace.
It said the state Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday, while reassuring the residents of the command’s unflinching commitment to bringing crime to the barest minimum, noted that the burning of combustible material on tarred road amounts to the vandalism of government property, stating that the full wrath of the law will be meted out on erring persons.
The statement enjoined residents to continue to partner the police to ensure the security of the city.