Jos Traders Decry Molestation, Harassment From Security Agents

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau State Traders Association has decried molestation and harassment from security agents during the enforcement of   ban on street trading at the Railway Terminus of Jos North Local Government Area.

Most of the traders who were ousted from the surroundings of the Terminus market cautioned the security apparatus against use of force.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday in Jos, chairman of terminus shoes sellers, Zakari Yau Adam said that the joint security task force are molesting and making mockery of their members and passersby without provocation, even as they have abided by the ban and that they are not trading on the road.

Adam said, “Security agents are beating and molesting our members and commercial drivers and passersby in the name of enforcing the ban on street traders. Some security agents are making mockery of us saying you have been clamoring for change, you have voted for change. This is the change we have gotten, are you not the people that voted for change”.

On his part, chairman of Yangwanjo, Dauda Muhammad said that the state government did not provide an alternative for them to continue their legitimate business, adding “We believe that the area we are trading is illegal, but we were forced to sell on the road because of the burning down of the Jos main market.

We call on the government to provide an alternative market before the reconstruction of the market as promised by Governor Simon Lalong,”

In his response when contacted, Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) Plateau State, Emmanuel Abuh said, he is yet to have full details of the enforcement team around the terminus market but appealed for calm. He charged the people of Plateau state to ensure that they didn’t break the law of the land.