A tricycle operator was reportedly killed on Tuesday during a clash between police officers and commercial tricycle operators in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital.

The incident occurred around 5:00 pm at the Road Block area of the city during a police patrol operation.

Witnesses said a police officer reportedly jumped out of a patrol vehicle in an attempt to arrest a tricycle operator, leading to an accident involving two tricycles carrying passengers.

The incident sparked anger among tricycle operators, who gathered at the scene and blocked the road in protest, causing a major disruption to traffic.

Residents told Daily Trust that the protest later escalated after police officers fired teargas to disperse the crowd. Some protesters alleged that a police officer shot one of the operators, resulting in his death.

They also claimed that tricycle operators and police personnel had experienced recurring disagreements, particularly over alleged extortion during night operations.

However, the Taraba State Police Command denied the allegation that officers opened fire on protesters.

The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Victor Mshelizah, said the deceased was one of the tricycle operators involved in the accident and not a victim of police shooting.

According to him, officers were conducting a stop-and-search operation when a tricycle rider, on sighting the police, drove into the wrong lane in an attempt to evade the checkpoint and collided with another tricycle.

Mshelizah added that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area also confirmed that no shots were fired.

He said two victims, a man and a woman who sustained serious injuries in the accident, were rushed to the hospital for treatment. (Daily Trust)

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