FCT taskforce swoops on motorcyclists to enforce ban on their operations
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A female hawker and a commercial motorcycle (Okada) operator have been allegedly shot dead by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) joint security taskforce around EFAB Estate junction, off Kubwa-Abuja Expressway in Karsana District.
The taskforce, comprising VIO, police, and NSCDC personnel, was set up by the FCT Administration to enforce the ban on motorcycle operations in Abuja.
The motorcyclist was reportedly shot dead allegedly by policemen who came to disperse commercial motorcyclists protesting the killing of the hawker.
It was learnt that the incident took place around 10am on Wednesday when VIO men accompanied by police and NSCDC officers, were conducting a routine operation to enforce the ban on motorcycle taxis around the highway.
A witness, Shafiu Abubakar, said VIO personnel attempted to seize some bikes used by the Okada men but met resistance from the owners.
“The number of the Okada riders kept increasing, which forced the taskforce to leave the scene without arresting any motorcycle,” he narrated to Daily Trust.
“However, one of the security men on the team pointed his gun toward the crowd, as they were leaving and shot dead an ice cream hawker, before they zoomed off.’’
Another witness, Sani Aliyu, said a protest led by the motorcyclists erupted along the expressway, leading to its blockade for over an hour, with protesters setting bonfires and hitting vehicles that attempted to drive through.
According to him, a police team from the Dawaki and Kubwa Owner Occupier divisions rushed to the scene and in dispersing the crowd, used live ammunition, which led to the killing of an Okada man, identified as Gaddafi Abubakar.
Another motorcyclist survived with a fracture in his leg, Aliyu added.
Kubwa General Hospital Chief Medical Director, Emmanuel Musa, confirmed that one person was brought dead by the motorcyclists and another brought by the police also died.
He said the third victim, who sustained a fracture linked to gun injury, was treated at the hospital.
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