Police probe VIO, Okada riders’ clash in Abuja

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The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has commenced an investigation into an altercation between personnel of the Vehicle Inspection Office and commercial motorcyclists in the Life Camp area of Abuja.

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The incident occurred at about 7 pm on Thursday during enforcement of the ban on commercial motorcyclists operating on major roads and routes within the Federal Capital Territory.

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The police said preliminary investigations indicated that a VIO official attached to a task force constituted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to enforce the ban had an altercation with a commercial motorcyclist, which later escalated into a confrontation.

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The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ahmed Sanusi, has consequently ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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A statement issued by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said the command would provide further information as the investigation progressed.

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The statement read in part, “The attention of the FCT Police Command was drawn to an altercation between personnel of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) in the Life Camp area of the FCT.

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“Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident occurred when a VIO personnel attached to a task force constituted by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enforce the ban on commercial motorcyclists operating on major roads and routes within the FCT had an altercation with a commercial motorcyclist. The situation subsequently escalated into a confrontation.”

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The police said normalcy had been restored in the area, urging residents to remain calm and continue with their lawful activities.

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The command also advised FCT residents to remain security-conscious and report suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines, 08032003913 and 08061581938.

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