By Abba Gwale
The Managing Director of Kano Road Traffic Agency (KAROTA), Baffa Babba Dan’Agundi, and his staff have reportedly beatean up a tricycle operator named Mujittapha Isah, to a stupor, without justification.
Mujittapha was unlucky to have received the full wrath of Baffa just because he intervened in trying to settle a rift between a fellow tricycle operator and KAROTA officials along Igbo road in Sabongari, Kano.
In a video obtained by SAHELIAN TIMES, Mujittapha narrated how Baffa and his staff physically decent on him and assaulted him to the level of unconsciousness.
“It was around 11pm at Igbo road close to Sabongari market that I saw by the roadside a tricycle which belong to my friend. I stopped by and asked him what happened, and he told me that KAROTA have arrested him. I just prayed for him because there was nothing I could do. At that moment, a KAROTA personnel also arrested me, saying that you guys are the ones that create chaos if one of you is arrested? I said, no.”
Mujittapha also added that, “Immediately after, another official also crossed the road and told his colleague that we are the people who are protesting against road congestion charges, and he even has the letter which we circulated. I denied that I was part of the protesters, but they refused and collected my tricycle, and put me inside their patrol vehicle.They took me to their headquarters at Bompai.”
“They presented me to their boss (Baffa) and told him that I am one of the people who are creating unrest in the city and plotting a riot, I instantly denied and told him my side of the story. Suddenly, Baffa started slapping and punching at face. And together with other officials, they joined and continued to pounce on me,” a physically traumatized Mujittapha narrated.
“They stripped me naked and used my trouser to clean the blood coming out of my mouth. I was became unconscious and didn’t know what happened afterwards. I later woke up and saw myself at the hospital,” he concluded.
Mujittapha is now recuperating from several injuries he sustained from the physical assault.
SAHELIAN TIMES gathered that the KAROTA boss is now trying to influence the parents of Mujittapha to stop him from seeking legal redress.
However, a human rights lawyer, Bar Abba Hikima, has already filed a suit on behalf of Mujittapha before the state High court. The court has ordered the police to investigate the matter.
When contacted about the issue by SAHELIAN TIMES, the spokesman of KAROTA said that he would respond via press release tomorrow.
Allegations of human rights abuse against KAROTA are common occurrences. The agency which was set up to enforce traffic rules has been turned into playing the role of a state police albeit unlawfully.
