Truck drivers on Friday blocked the busy Bauchi–Jos highway at the Miri axis of Bauchi metropolis following the alleged damage of a colleague’s truck tyre by revenue enforcement officials.
According to the spokesperson of the Bauchi State Police Command, SP Nafiu Habib, the incident occurred when officials of the Federal Government haulage unit placed a metal barricade on the road after the driver failed to stop for a routine revenue check while approaching Bauchi from Jos. The action reportedly caused the truck’s tyre to burst.
Angered by the incident, other truck drivers mobilised in solidarity and mounted a roadblock, disrupting traffic along the highway.
To restore order, the Divisional Police Officer of ‘B’ Division, CSP Holman Simon, accompanied by CSP Abdulrazak Padah, Officer in Charge of Operation Restore Peace (ORP), intervened at the scene. Habib said the officers engaged the protesting drivers, listened to their grievances, and paid N310,000 to the affected driver to replace the damaged tyre.
Following the intervention, the protesters dispersed peacefully, and normal traffic flow was restored.
Meanwhile,The police also confirmed that two suspects were arrested in connection with the disturbance of public peace.
However,Commending the swift and diplomatic handling of the situation, the Commissioner of Police, Sani Omolori, praised CSP Simon’s response and expressed appreciation to residents of Bauchi State for their continued cooperation with the police.
