Angry tricycles operators in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State stormed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) office in the state on Monday, May 12, 2014 destroying part of the office building and some vehicles due to the accident which involved one of their members, Mr Magnus Dike.
Mr Dike , on Saturday, May 10, 2014 was taking three children home when a driver, said to be chased by men of the FRSC, collided with his tricycle, killing his children, a boy and a girl while the third person was rushed to the hospital and currently responding to treatment.
Some of the tricycle operators, who were said to be around when the accident happened, were allegedly angry about the sad incident and started attacking the officers present at the scene.
Still upset that officers who caused the accident had fled the scene, the operators went to the FRSC state command headquarters and destroyed some parts of the building.
The sector head of operations, Mr. Faustinus Kalu who went to check the extent of the destruction round the premises on Monday, May 12, 2014 observed that the corps conference hall, operations office, and some doors and windows of the command were broken.
The sector commander, FRSC, Mr. Vincent Jack, expressed sadness at the accident which claimed the lives of the two schoolchildren.
He said the information reaching him was that the officials were asking a driver who had excess passengers to drop one person.
He said, ” it was in the process of the encounter between the men and the commercial driver that the tricyclist sighted them, and probably thinking he would be arrested, drove on top speed to avoid the patrol team.
“Dike lost control of the tricycle and ran over the Toyota Matrix vehicle being held by our men.
“Some tricycle riders blamed our men for the accident and they got violent, The marshalls had to run for their lives. The next report I got was that they mobilised themselves and destroyed government property.”
“However the corps Marshall General, Mr. Chidoka Osita, has ordered that an investigative panel be set up to unravel the cause of the accident.”
He added, “We will hear the version of the tricycle operators to know how it happened. The FRSC will not mortgage its integrity and image on the altar of officers who are found wanting in their job.
“We believe in engaging people without using force. That is why we do not bear arms. We appeal to the public to remain calm until all investigations are concluded.”
