The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of ‘B’ Division, Bauchi State Police Command, CSP Holman Simon, on Friday, paid N310,000 as compensation to a truck driver whose tyre was allegedly damaged by revenue officials at a checkpoint on Bauchi-Jos Highway.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Nafiu Abubakar, the Command received information on Friday morning from the chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, regarding a road blockade by truck drivers around the Miri area along the Bauchi-Jos Road.
The statement said upon receiving the report, a team of detectives led by CSP Holman Simon, in collaboration with CSP Abdulrazak Padah, Officer in Charge of Operation Restore Peace (ORP), promptly moved to the scene and adopted a diplomatic and professional approach to address the situation.
Police preliminary investigation revealed that a truck driver travelling from Jos, Plateau State, to Bauchi State, was stopped by a revenue agent of the Federal Government Haulage and asked to pay a stipulated levy.
When the driver allegedly failed to stop immediately, the officials reportedly placed a road-blocking device in front of the moving truck. The driver drove over the object, resulting in the burst of one of the truck’s tyres.
The incident sparked a heated disagreement, prompting other truck drivers to block the busy highway in solidarity with their colleague, thereby disrupting traffic flow on busy highway.
According to the statement, in a show of professionalism, the DPO of ‘B’ Division engaged the aggrieved drivers, listened to their demands, and personally paid N310,000 to the affected driver to enable him replace the damaged tyre.
Following the intervention, the protesting truck drivers peacefully dispersed, and normal traffic flow was restored on the road.
The PPRO said two suspects were arrested in connection with the breach of public peace.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended CSP Holman Simon for his exemplary conduct and appreciated the people of Bauchi State for their continued cooperation and support to the Police.
“Investigation into the incident is ongoing,” the statement added.
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