Some operatives of the Kano State Road and Traffic Agency (KAROTA) on Tuesday clashed with tricycle riders on Zaria Road close to the Kofar Nassarawa Bridge in the state capital.

The incident left many commuters stranded before touts started attacking innocent people indiscriminately.

Scores were allegedly injured while passersby ran helter-skelter for safety.

A witness, Musa Abubakar, told journalists that a team of KAROTA operatives dragged an erring tricycle rider who refused to comply with traffic rules, leading to injuries by the passengers while the tricycle was damaged.

Mr Abubakar said, “A tricycle rider was asked to stop by the KAROTA, but he kept moving.

“The KAROTA operatives dragged the vehicle, which led to their fall that damaged the machine and the passenger wounded on the shoulder. I think he had a fracture.”

Shortly after, tricycle riders stormed the KAROTA office adjacent to the scene of the incident, which led to a fracas between the two parties.

“The tricycle riders just kept dropping passengers at the scene and moved to support their members. It was the timely arrival of the police that brought the situation under control,” the witness said.

Tricycle riders and KAROTA operatives have been at loggerheads with each other over the alleged highhandedness of KAROTA officials against the tricycle operators.

Governor Kabir Yusuf recently changed the agency’s leadership to reposition it and bring changes to its operations.

The public relations officer of KAROTA, Nabilusi Kofar-Na’isa, confirmed the incident, saying that police have been informed and are investigating the matter.

“They will investigate and report to us their findings which will be made public. If it’s our operatives that are found wanting, they’ll be punished accordingly.

“If it’s the tricycle rider that has done wrong, he will also be punished accordingly to serve as a deterrent,” he said.

(NAN)