Taxi drivers in Abuja have said they are deliberately targeted and made to
suffer in several ways ranging from extortion, arbitrary arrests and in some cases,
have their vehicles impounded by the joint task force operating in the
federal capital territory.

The task force comprises of the police, Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Federal
Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence
Corps (NSCDC).

The 'intimidation and harassment' by the joint task force, according to
AljairahNigeria investigations is reportedly coordinated by the police force.

This untoward practices directed against the cab drivers have scared some of
them away from some routes within the capital city.

It was gathered that there are several incidences where harassment of drivers
by the officials led to accidents.

Several routes in the FCT especially at the FCDA junction in area 11 Garki have
reportedly been converted to spot for fleecing harried motorists by the task force.

It was further gathered that exorbitant fines are imposed on the
commercial drivers.

The painted and unpainted taxi operators in such instances, are sometimes forced to
part with as much as N25,000 and N35,000 respectively, before having their vehicles released to them.

Our reporter who monitored the activities of the Joint Task Force observed
that when commercial drivers are flagged down for not abiding to the
traffic rules, the JTF official will aggressively drag the drivers out from
behind the wheel and drive the car away without any explanation.

It could be recalled that in 2016, the drivers called on the government to come
to their aid during a protest which was staged across the capital city. During
the protest, the drivers marched in large numbers between Berger roundabout
and Wuse Market, obstructing traffic, and movement of vehicles.

In an interview with AljazirahNigeria, a taxi driver in the nation's
capital, David Ogidan, complained that the modus operandi of the JTF has
posed a serious problem to their operations.

“We do not support the way task force is operating, when your vehicle
is seized, it is expected that the driver should be inside with the JTF
to drive it to their office. But this is not the case here. It is very
wrong that the VIO should throw the driver out of vehicle and drive the
vehicle to their office or any location. We have been finding it difficult
to know where to see or find our vehicles thereafter.

“This way this task force is operating is not good at all. In one incident
that happened last year they collected the 'motor' and used it on their patrol
team. They also collected one vehicle and till today, the owner has not found
the car.

“Sometimes, when they arrest your vehicle and park it inside their office,
if you do follow up on the matter, you will discover on the second day that
either the battery or spare tyre of your vehicle will not be found. I
wonder what is happening. The VIO was not like this in the past.

“They have repeatedly told us that there is no bus top in Abuja. The
question we are compelled to ask is, where did they want us to discharge
our passengers. If you want to drop passenger even at the bus-stop they
will say ‘no bus stop here’. That language is not accepted at all.”

Ogidan urged FCT government to clearly designate areas where commercial
vehicles can use as a motor parks or bus stops across Abuja.

He advised all commercial drivers to be law abiding, urging them not to turn
the walkways to motor park.

Similarly, a commercial driver, Chinedu Ezekiel explained that the rate at
which the Joint Task force are extorting them is quite alarming.

He noted that they look for flimsy excuses with the sole intention of
collecting money from the unpainted taxi drivers whom, he said, majority,
rely solely on to meet their basic survival.

“I am tired of this JTF. And almost all of our members are tired, they use
unnecessary tactics to collect money from us. You could imagine that they
will walk up to you and simply tell you that you have committed an offence
by parking in a place that is not designated as bus top. Why are they
making life so difficult for us?

“If we paint our car, it will reduce our patronage because in most estates
and offices in Abuja they don’t allow painted taxis to enter. So how do
they want us to survive and what special provision are they making for the
painted taxi drivers?

“Government should help us and find lasting solution to this because the
JTF is always saying the order is from the Minister of FCT as well as the
FCT commissioner of Police”, Ezekiel stressed.

Reacting to the allegation, the FCT police public relation officer, Anjuguri
Mamza who spoke in a telephone interview with AljazirahNigeria did not
deny knowledge of the task force.

He however pointed to our correspondent that, the commissioner of Police is the
'head of the operation' explaining that the main aim of the JTF is to rid the city
of illegality in this regard.

He added that the objective is also to aid in the compliance of the rules and
regulations set by the Minister of FCT.

The police spokesperson denied the issue of extortion saying that the CP
will never allow anything contrary to the main objectives of the operation
to take place.

He maintained that no cab driver is exploited by the JTF.

“The basic objective of the joint task force is to cleanse FCT.
The commissioner of police is the head of the committee and will not allow
anything contrary to the objectives of the operation. On the issue of
extorting, nothing like that is in the system. Their responsibility is to
ensure compliance with the rules and regulations aimed at managing the
commercial drivers in the territory.

“The issue of extortion is out of it. Those that are found guilty are arrested
and prosecuted. My advice for the drivers is simply that, they should
operate within the confines of the law. They should operate within the
rules and regulations set by the FCT administration.

He urged FCT commercial drivers to always park at the designated
garages as specified by the traffic agency.

Meanwhile the government is still fighting corruption.

i stay at Abuja and a taxi driver friend of mine that ply the route from area 3 - wuse market shared his story about this wickedness from these joint task force. first, they started from arresting drivers for dropping off thier passengers, even if you stopped at the designated taxi stops, drivers have to constantly watch thier rear view mirror to see if these men are coming. cos they will either arrest you, or take your battery or extort you from #500 - #1500. some days they will start going after unpainted taxis even at the extent of going into taxi parks to impose unnecessary taxes to the car owners. they will either take your car battery or remove your plate number of you happen to run from them. next they will go after private numbers. even if you like have everything right from particulars to right parking. they will still extort money from you. so many of the drivers has experience situations where they take thier battries and either charge up to #20k for recovery or even sell off your car battery. these are people that are suppose to ensure securities are indirectly stealing from those they are suppose to protect. I wonder when this country will get better.