Commercial activities came to a halt in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Friday as tricycle operators staged a protest in response to the alleged killing of one of their colleagues by unidentified suspects.
The protest, which commenced in the afternoon on Friday, resulted in the blockage of several major highways in Jalingo metropolis. Notable roads affected by the protest included Nukkai, ATC, and Micheline, among others.
Abdullahi Bello, the state chairman of the Association of Tricycle Operators, revealed in an interview with our reporter that the victim was murdered by individuals posing as passengers.
These individuals initially hired the tricycle operators but ultimately not only killed the driver but also made off with the tricycle itself.
Bello recounted, “What transpired was that some of our drivers, working during the night, were approached by passengers who chartered their tricycle. Tragically, these passengers not only took the driver’s life but also absconded with the tricycle.”
He added, “The incident occurred on Nukai bridge during the night, and by morning, I had dispatched my Jalingo branch chairman to retrieve the victim’s remains. However, before we knew it, protests had erupted throughout Jalingo.”
Bello expressed concern that the protest had been infiltrated by troublemakers, resulting in damage to his office. He noted that if not for the timely intervention of soldiers and the police, his office might have been completely destroyed by the enraged protesters.
He called upon law enforcement agencies and the state government to spare no effort in apprehending the culprits responsible for the violence against their members.
Several protesters, in conversations with our reporter, vowed to continue protesting until those responsible for the crime were brought to justice.
Also confirming the incident, the state police command, through the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abdullahi Usman, said the command has commenced investigations to unravel those behind the killing.
