Mike, who was among the roadside touts that allegedly caused the accident that killed a couple in the Mabushi area of Abuja on Wednesday, yesterday spoke from his hospital bed.

He was one of the three touts who allegedly entered the couple?s vehicle, which crashed into a Mazda at Mabushi along the Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway, killing the couple and two of the touts.

The police confirmed the accident yesterday, saying the couple and the injured touts were rushed to the National Hospital, Abuja. There, doctors on duty confirmed that four people?including the couple and two of the touts?had died.

Speaking with our reporter, who visited the hospital yesterday, one of the surviving touts, who gave his name as Mike, narrated their story and how the incident happened.

Mike, 28, admitted to working for the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) as a ticketing agent.

Speaking from his hospital bed with visible injuries to his leg and arm, Mike explained his version of events.

?I live in Gwagwalada, but I work in the city. My job is to make sure every commercial vehicle buys a ticket before they pick up passengers. If they don?t buy, we stop them. If they refuse, we can follow them. That?s what happened that day,? he said.

According to Mike, he had entered the ill-fated vehicle because the driver attempted to pick up passengers without purchasing a daily ticket.

?I entered the motor to direct him to our office at Vandees. But the man refused to stop. He started driving fast. Before I knew it, there was an accident. My leg and my hand are broken. Since yesterday, nobody from the union has checked on me,? he lamented.

He went on to explain the inner workings of the ticketing system, alleging that the money collected from drivers is controlled by union leaders and is not directly remitted to government accounts.

?When we collect money, we give it to our chairman. They say it?s for buying more tickets and ID cards. We just hand it over. I don?t know how they share it. I only know that from a N7,000 fine, the office takes N3,000, and we take N4,000,? he said.

Mike also revealed that he and other agents are sometimes left vulnerable during confrontations with drivers.

?If something happens, you won?t see our leaders. They will not come to help you. Since I landed here, no one has called. I even lost my phone. I feel bad because I am the one suffering while others enjoy the money,? he added, holding back tears.

When asked whether he regrets his actions, Mike admitted that he now feels differently about the work.

?If I look at myself here now, I am not happy. My leg and hand are broken. I can die at any moment. At least I have learned a lesson from this. If I had known, maybe I would not have entered that car,? he said quietly.

Police probe incident

The FCT Police Command says it has begun an investigation into Wednesday?s fatal motor accident where a man, Emeka Ehekweme, and his wife were chased to their deaths by touts popularly known as agberos.

Reacting to the incident on Thursday, the FCT police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said preliminary findings indicate that a Toyota Highlander with registration number ABJ 206 EC, driven by one Emeka Ehekweme and his wife, was accosted by three unidentified suspects who forcefully entered the vehicle near Berger Junction, Utako.

According to her, in the ensuing struggle for control of the steering wheel, the vehicle lost control, struck another parked Mazda vehicle and somersaulted into a bridge pillar.

She said ?The Highlander?s driver, his wife, and two of the assailants were confirmed dead on arrival at the National Hospital, while a third suspect is currently receiving treatment. The Mazda driver, one Suleman Mohammed, sustained no life-threatening injuries.

?Investigation into the circumstances of the incident is underway. The command commiserates with the families of the deceased and assures the public of a thorough investigation to ascertain the facts of the matter. Further development will be communicated in due course.?

When Abuja Metro visited the National Hospital yesterday, it was learned that some people had come to identify the victims.

Notorious activities of touts in Abuja

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed their deep concern about the activities of touts, popularly known as ?agberos,? in the nation?s capital.

The residents are urging the FCT Administration to take decisive action against these individuals, who often claim to be union officials.

A civil servant, Jimoh Aliyu, recounted being harassed by agberos in the Area 1 district of Garki.

He said that despite presenting his identification card, he was forced to pay N22,000 before being released.

Mr. Emmanuel Ezikiel, a commercial driver who uses the Berger-Mpape road, identified the area from Mabushi to Bannex as particularly notorious for agberos.

He described how they would go to great lengths to apprehend drivers, saying, ?If they catch you, no matter who you are, you must pay or they will take you to their base at Jabi garage.?

Another motorist, Dauda Alabe, noted that private cars are often the main target and called on the FCT Administration to curb their activities.

A journalist with an Abuja-based newspaper also shared a similar experience, stating that he was apprehended by agberos at Area 1.

After waiting for more than two hours and showing his ID card, he was still forced to pay N7,000.

He appealed to both the police and the FCT Administration to immediately begin a clampdown on these touts.

In a recent statement, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, acknowledged the chaotic state of the transport sector in the nation?s capital, which he admitted provides an environment for touts to operate at various bus stops. He announced that a comprehensive transport plan is in progress and that the administration has already started revamping the sector by constructing modern bus terminals in different parts of the city. (Daily Trust)

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