Stop harassing us, Jos Terminus traders tell police

Traders around Terminus Market in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State have denounced alleged maltreatment by security personnel deployed at the market by the state government.

The traders alleged that sometimes the security personnel would seize their goods such as shoes, stationeries, clothes, bags and other valuable items.

The traders made the complaint yesterday through the Chairman of Shoe Sellers Association (SSA) of the market, Nasiru Yahaya, who said the manner in which the security personnel were handling them was unfortunate.

“They destroy our goods and properties. And sometimes we get injured while running from arrest,” Yahaya said, adding, “We are small scale traders and prior to the 2015 election, the government promised to rebuild the market and that has not been done. For over a year now, we have been maltreated by the security people.”

He said that since the government could not provide any financial assistance to them the government should not deprive them the little they had. “We should be allowed to manage the limited resources to feed our family,” he added.

The traders however reaffirmed their support for Governor Simon Lalong despite the challenges they said they were facing, and asked the governor to allow them continue with their businesses until the market was rebuilt.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer for Plateau State, ASP Tyopev Terna denied any form of maltreatment and harassment by the security personnel at the market.

He said, “Since after the twin bomb blasts at the market which led to loss of lives and properties, government decided to decongest the town. And the traders complaining are staying there illegally. They are even depriving shop owners of their customers, because they are staying illegally outside the shops.”

He added that the taskforce at the market were doing their job professionally and did not maltreat or harass any trader.