Amid nationwide #ENDSARS protests, angry tanker drivers in Adamawa on Sunday shutdown Yola-Jalingo highway to protest alleged police brutality against a tanker driver near Mayo Belwa town.
Major Nigerian towns are currently facing fierce protests by youths under the banner of #EndSARS to protest police brutality and bad governance.
“A tanker driver whose fuel got exhausted was trying to transfer fuel to the main tank from his reservoir.
” Some policemen from Karewa area command who are notorious for extorting motorists accosted the tanker driver and demanded bribe from him.
“When he failed to heed to their demand, they descended on him, beat him up to stupor and even tore his clothes. The people have to swoop on the policemen, rescue the hapless man and rushed him to hospital,” Mr Ali said.
Another eye witness Sale Baba, an official of the tanker drivers, said that “we are tired of the atrocities being perpetrated by the police. That is why this time they shut down the highway to demand justice for one of them who was brutalized for committing no crime.
” The situation is now causing serious tension as commuters plying the highway have become stranded for hours.
“The authorities should take stiffer action to ensure that such policemen are brought to justice as they constitute a threat to peace and security,” Mr Zaiti said.
Reacting, the police spokesman in the state, Sulaiman Nguroje, said he was intimated about the development and the commissioner of police had deployed a team to ascertain the situation.
“I have heard about the commotion and commissioner had since deployed a team to investigate.
” We will surely take the proper action. If the police are found wanton in this regard, Adamawa police command will not hesitate to mete out punishment to them.
“He ordered that the alleged police officers be arrested,” he said.
The police command, earlier this year, dismissed one of its men for allegedly killing a motorcycle rider in Maiha local government area if the state.
Support PREMIUM TIMES' journalism of integrity and credibility
Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
For continued free access to the best investigative journalism in the country we ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you are helping to sustain a journalism of relevance and ensuring it remains free and available to all.
TEXT AD: To advertise here . Call Willie +2347088095401...
Discussion about this post