After work had ended, the commercial driver, known as Fwinbe Thomas, was heading home when he grazed a motorbike rider with his car.
The driver was allegedly killed in an attack on Tudun Wada Ring Road in Jos by hoodlums who pursued him on motorcycles after the event and were enraged by it.
Alabo Alfred, the spokesman for the Plateau State Police Command, issued a statement on Thursday in which he both confirmed the driver’s death and denounced the criminals’ behaviour.
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 killing of one Mr Fwinbe Thomas who was found lying in a pool of his own blood 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 blood beside a damaged Suzuki Mini Bus with Reg. No.: KWK 536 XA, with multiple injuries on his head.
“The victim is suspected to have been cruelly beaten to death 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 dead by a medical doctor. The corpse has been deposited at the hospital’s morgue for autopsy.”
The assurance that Fwinbe Thomas’ killers were still at large came from the statement.
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”
