The Plateau State Police Command on Thursday confirmed the kîlling of a commercial driver in Jos by persons suspected to be hoodlums.
It was learnt that the commercial driver, identified as Fwinbe Thomas, had grazed a motorcycle rider with his vehicle while driving home after the close of work.
However, some hoodlums who were angered by the incident were said to have chased after the driver in their motorcycles and attacked him along Tudun Wada Ring Road in Jos, leading to his dèāth.
The spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, Alabo Alfred, condemned the action of the hoodlums in a statement on Thursday while confirming the death of the driver.
The statement read in part, “The Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Police Command, CP Okoro Julius Alawari, is miffed with and totally condemns the unlawful kîlling of one Mr Fwinbe Thomas who was found lying in a pool of his own blóód along Tudun Wada Ring Road, Hwolshe in Jos.
“Sequel to a report of the incident by a credible informant on 25/09/2023 at about 2230hrs, the Police Patrol Team attached to Anglo-Jos Division swiftly rushed to the scene of the cruel incident where they found the victim lying in a pool of his own blóód beside a damaged Suzuki Mini Bus with Reg. No.: KWK 536 XA, with multiple injûries on his head.
“The victim is suspected to have been cruelly beaten to deāth by some hoodlums, suspected to be commercial motorcyclists popularly known as “Okada Riders” whose operation in Jos Metropolis/Bukuru metropolis is illegal.
“Photographs of the victim were taken, the vehicle was towed to the station and the body of the victim was taken to the Plateau Specialist Hospital where he was confirmed deãd by a medical doctor. The cõrpse has been deposited at the hospital’s morgùe for autopsy.”
The statement assured that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the kïllers of Fwinbe Thomas.
It added, “The commissioner appeals for calm as the police is already on top of the situation.
“He assures Plateau residents that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will not evade justice as there is no hiding place for evil-doers in the State.
“The Plateau Police boss also sends a stern warning to executors of “Jungle Justice” to desist from such lawlessness as the Command under his watch will not spare any person found culpable of such inhuman act.
“He emphasised the need for citizens to allow law enforcement agencies to take charge of such cases instead of taking laws into their hands.
“Investigation into this case is still ongoing and further development will be made available to the public in due course.
“The CP further uses this medium to inform the general public that the ban on the use of motorcycle popularly known as Okada within Jos Metropolis and Bukuru is still in force”