Motorcycle ban creates ‘curfew’ in Maiduguri

Therefore, with the view to curtail the excesses of motorcyclists, the Borno State House of Assembly enacted a motorcycle and other related offences law in 2009 following repeated cases of offences by cyclists. Implementation commenced, but was short lived following controversies trailing its enforcement by security forces. The law was re-visited this year (on Thursday, […]

Therefore, with the view to curtail the excesses of motorcyclists, the Borno State House of Assembly enacted a motorcycle and other related offences law in 2009 following repeated cases of offences by cyclists. Implementation commenced, but was short lived following controversies trailing its enforcement by security forces.

The law was re-visited this year (on Thursday, August 5) following incidences of mysterious killings of police officers and other residents by motorcycle riding gunmen. Between July 2 and August 4, five police officers had been gruesomely murdered and four of their weapons taken away. All the operations took place before 10pm. Two civilians, a ward head and a lecturer at the state school of nursing, believed to be a police informant, were also killed in similar attacks. A ward head and two other persons were also injured in other similar attacks.

Enforcement by the police became necessary with operations initially restricted from 6am to 9pm but was extended to 10pm in the month of Ramadan following pleas from stakeholders for Muslim faithfuls observing the fast and other forms of worships during the holy month.

Circumstantial evidence on the killings and the recent recognition of an assailant by a ‘lucky’ district head who survived an onslaught, revealed the killings were perpetrated by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect and police sources said the measure became necessary in order to check their deadly activities.

The Borno State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Abdu, said the suspects are attacking the police to stock up arms, while the traditional rulers are under attack because they assisted the police to expose members of the sect in their domain and in giving evidence against them in courts.

But the killings persisted during the holy month of Ramadan with the murder of a retired assistant superintendent of police in Bama and two other residents in Maiduguri on Sunday, September 5 when three people were shot during an attack on the district head of Kalari area in Limanti Ward of Maiduguri, where one of them died on the spot.  In a similar attack on two persons (one of them a ward head) where one was shot in the stomach around the Maiduguri new prisons, he too was said to have died recently. A drastic measure had to be taken and the ban was reviewed from 6pm to 7am.

“With the prevailing security situation on ground, where police officers and some members of the public were shot and killed by unknown persons riding on motorcycles, the state government deemed it fit to further review the restriction of the movement of motorcycles from 6pm to 7am,” CP Ibrahim Abdu, explained before the last review.

Abdu warned that the command and other security agencies will not fold their arms and watch a few “disgruntled and ruthless miscreants continue to commit heinous crimes and go scot free.”

The CP’s warning was matched with action on the first day of the implementation as hundreds of motorcycles were impounded in coordinated raids that made violators flee in different directions and in some cases, sustaining injuries. Residents who saw fleeing persons had started spreading rumours of another crisis by members of the Boko Haram sect.

Violators of the ban are slammed with a N1,000 fine and checks by our correspondent revealed  multitudes of seized motorcycles at divisional police headquarters across the metropolis. It is uncertain how the remittances of the fines would be accounted for since such payments are not backed with receipts.

The drama that envelopes the metropolis as the 6pm restriction time approaches is always tension soaked as cyclists would be seen riding dangerously to beat time. As soon as it is time, the roads become empty and soon afterwards, shop owners and business operators follow suit to close shop. Any new entrant into the town would think a curfew was in place.

Residents believe that the ‘curfew’ though justified, is a case of punishing many for the sin of a few, even though they laud the new arrangement because it may curb criminal excesses, going by the convenience which motorcycles provide for the criminals. More so is the fact that in all the serial killings, motorcycles were used as a means to commit the crime and to escape.

Mostly affected are low income earners who use motorcycles for its convenience, privately or as commuters. Adamu, a fruit vendor who operates along the Baga road railroad, says they close early now because most of them use okada as a means of transport, adding that the fear that the place could become deserted immediately after other business operators close shop is a major reason why they too follow suit.

Others complain of the pains of having to trek long distances, owing to the fact that most of them reside in new layouts in the outskirts of the metropolis. They said gaining entrance into the areas can only be convenient with motorcycles, going by the lack of standard access roads. Some even said if they are unable to get a taxi or bus to take them home, they walk from their various business places.

The Chairman of the Okada Riders Association, Alhaji Kaigama Mohammed, had earlier argued that okada operators members, who would be most affected, have been informed of the conditions and guidelines which now restricts and moderates their operations and acknowledged that though the measure is meant to reduce criminal activities associated with motorcyclists, those involved in such criminalities are not registered members of the association.

Our correspondent observes that the restriction which affects both commercial and private motorcycles who play an important role in the transport sector of the state, have started exposing the ineffectiveness of existing structures in the sector.

The sights of broken down rickety Toyota buses, that traditionally serve as the major means of transport, half way to their respective destinations, leave commuters stranded, forcing them to either wait until they are fixed or be stranded by the roadside, while they wait for the Golf car taxis.

It is now common sight to see stranded commuters along major roads and bus stops in areas like the Post Office, Monday market, Custom roundabout, amongst others as the ‘curfew’ time clocks.

Observers note that though the measure could be reducing crime and ghastly vehicular accident rates, a phenomenon which motorcyclists, especially commercial ones are famous for, a total ban, which the Borno police command is advocating, in the event that the measure fails to curtail the killings, could spell doom with a boomerang effect.

They argue that it could be counter-productive as it could increase crime rate since thousands of youths now engaged as commercial motorcyclists, would lose their sources of livelihoods. They noted that there is need for government and the private sector to strongly and quickly consider the introduction of alternative means for intra city transport to cushion the effects.

They even argued further that even the few skilled okada riders who may want to use their entrepreneurial skills, could be hindered by factors like lack of capital to start a business.

Interestingly, some cyclists caught in-between the restricted period have devised dangerous means of evading arrests by using the long queues of vehicles caught in the stop and search operations jointly undertaken by a combined team of conventional and mobile police officers, as well as the operation flush security team to escape.

Observers have cautioned that in the event that an over-zealous security officer tries to accost them in the process, use of firearm could become imminent and stray bullet hits could become rampant.

It was also noted that though some of the security officers discharged their duties with a lot of caution and professionalism, a few have again started exhibiting high-handedness and meting residents with undignified punishments like being submerged in stagnant dirty water while assault with sticks, gun buts and military boots take place.

It appears the ban and new security measures are working as the police, earlier in the week, announced the arrest of 10 Boko Haram suspects.

Confirming the arrests to newsmen, the commissioner of police said seven of the sect members were arrested in batches over the last two weeks within Maiduguri metropolis and environs. He said all seven suspects were arrested after the 2009 uprising and arraigned in courts but released on bail, adding that the remaining three were among the 123 members of the sect who escaped from the Bauchi prisons after last Tuesday’s jail break who were arrested during a ‘stop and search’ operation following surveillance mounted to checkmate infiltration.

It seems the okada ban is proving effective as it appears that the rising fear that enveloped Maiduguri and its environs following the mysterious killings appear to be dousing as most people who spoke to our correspondent said they are more at ease now and feel more secured despite all the inconveniences brought by the stringent security measures against okada operators.