By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Makurdi branch, wants the Benue State Security Council (BSSC) to as a matter of urgency reverse its ban on the use of Motorcycles in Ukum and Katsina-Ala Local Government Areas of Benue State.
Benue State Security Council had approved ban on use of motorcycles operation in the aforesaid local government areas following an assassination attempt on the Chairman, Katsina-Ala Local Government, Mr Atera where his Orderly and four other persons were murdered by a militia gang.
Briefing Newsman in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the Chairman NBA, Makurdi branch, Barr. Justin Gbagir pointed out that motorcycles are the commonest and affordable means of transportation in communities such as Ukum and Katsina-Ala, stressing that the ban has brought untold hardship on them.
Gbagir contended that the communities are predominantly farmers who depend on the use of the motorcycles as means of transportation to their farms.
Continuing, he stated thus: “The inability of government to provide white- collar jobs for the unemployed youths, commercial motorcycles have become their means of livelihood”.
According to him, “some of the youths obtained their motorcycles through long term savings and hired purchase, and to ban the use of motorcycles will bring hardship to the youth and criminal activities would spring up more in the zone.”
