From Oluseye Ojo and Eniola Oyemolade, Ibadan
There was pandemonium in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Wednesday as drivers working in the Pace Setter Transport Company owned by the state government barricaded the entrance of a police station with over 10 long buses.
The drivers reportedly took the action to protest the arrest and detention of one of them by policemen from Iwo Road police station at Testing Ground. The barricade obstructed free flow of traffic between Idi-Ape and Iwo Road.
The arrested driver, Akinola Kolawole, was said to have been detained from Tuesday to Wednesday at the station before more than 20 of his colleagues staged the protest.
The police were said to have promptly responded to the protest and arrested 18 other operators, including drivers and ticket sellers of the government buses popularly known as Ajumose. Ten buses were also said to have been impounded by the police.
The 19 suspects were, however, taken to an Oyo State Magistrate Court, sitting within the premises of Ibadan North East Local Government Area where they were arraigned. Before the proceedings started, a policeman walked up to the suspects and used razor to cut the ropes that were used to tie their wrists. It was gathered that the ropes had wounded some of the suspects before they were untied.
Kolawole, however, spoke to journalists yesterday, saying: “I have been using this bus stop since 2013. The police asked me to vacate but I wondered where to go. While I was trying to start my vehicle, I was bundled into the police van. We did not park on the road. I have been detained since y Tuesday evening.”
The Area Commander, Agodi Area Command, H. O. Odumusu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, was said to have on Tuesday evening instructed taxi operators and mass transit operators to vacate a part of the Iwo Road bus terminus to allow free flow of traffic.
Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the incident said: “We are aware that Iwo Road axis and others are usually blocked. So, the clearing of obstruction was done not just at Iwo Road but on other axis.
“But the ones at Iwo road think they are above the law and they were arrested. They mobilised and blocked the entrance to the Iwo Road police station. 19 suspects were arrested and taken to court. 10 buses were also impounded.”
Reacting to the development, the Oyo state government dissociated itself from the protest describing the drivers’ action as an act of brigandage.
The Executive Secretary, Bureau of Investment Promotion, Oyo State, Mr. Yinka Fatoki, who is supervising the Pace Setter Transport Company, told newsmen at the court premises yesterday: “Government is not aware of all that happened.