Youths vandalise military vehicle, dismantle checkpoint

Youths from Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State on Tuesday took to the street to protest random stop and search of motorcycle riders at a checkpoint manned by Operation Safe Haven, the multi-security taskforce saddled with maintaining law and order in Plateau State.

The youths, Daily Trust gathered, stoned and injured two security agents, dismantled the military checkpoint and vandalised a hilux vehicle owned by the taskforce.

Our correspondent also gathered that trouble started when the Chairman of Okada riders in the area, who it was alleged had formed the habit of riding through the checkpoint without subjecting himself to any checks, was intercepted by security agents for stop and search.

The chairman was said to have mobilised some youths who returned to the area to protest the presence of the checkpoint and insisted that henceforth, motorcycle riders would no longer stop and push their motorcycles at checkpoints.

The protest forced Operation Safe Haven Commander, Major General Rogers Nicholas, to make an unscheduled visit to the area on Tuesday and yesterday. He told journalists that the youths have been made to rebuild the checkpoint while the local government council had fixed the vehicle.

General Nicholas said he had reminded the youths at a meeting with elders from the community that Plateau State was still under emergency rule and had given the youths six hours to rebuild the checkpoint which they did.