National, News

Motorists irked by military manning traffic

By Bida Elly David

Boda-Boda riders in Juba have aired concerns over the alarming encroachment by military officers on traffic duties; an act they said is unsafe for their operation at night.

In an interview with the No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper on Thursday, John Likambo, a boda-boda rider stationed at Gudele 2, said he was militarily harassed by a uniformed officer on Wednesday.

He said that the harassment transpired after the officer put him under pressure to produce a logbook.

Likambo argued officers were supposed to protect the citizens peacefully as they celebrated the feast of Eid Al Adha, but the opposite was true.

“I was ferrying a customer from Texas Club to Kubri Haboba Police Station. The officer forcefully asked me why I had not renewed my logbook in advance. I tried telling him about the remaining days, but he was brutal,” he said.

Likambo noted that his passenger was silenced after he tried to defend him, adding that the brutal officer removed his key and demanded a fine, threatening to take him to the military sector.

It has become the new normal for military officers to do purported security checks along major streets in the town, mostly between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to ask for vehicle and motorcycle licenses from motorists. They reportedly tend to ask for some bribe to release bikes or cars caught without license.

“He wanted money, about $10,000, but I resisted because I was not guilty but rather serving my customers at night to feed my family,” he said.

According to Likambo, he observed that the military officer had been drunk and could not act ethically.

“His core officers were even near him on duty, but none of them came to my rescue, making me think it was a planned business,” he added.

The Boda-Boda rider slammed the government for using the army to run services that are supposed to be executed by the traffic police.

“The military officers are supposed to deal with guns. They are only concerned with confiscating guns from drivers or passengers to avoid harm to the public, not to ask for bike logbooks or papers,” he said.

On his part, Sebit Abudikin, a long-serving boda boda rider in Juba, said that threats have become his experience since he was severally kidnapped and had three of his bikes forcefully confiscated in dark zones.

Sebit said that a lot needs to be done by the government to guarantee good security for motorists, drivers, pedestrians, and passengers in South Sudan.

“People are struggling to feed their families. They are doing this because they didn’t have any chances to get jobs since the government cannot employ everybody. If officers who are supposed to protect civilians turn out to be enemies, then there is no patriotism,” he hinted.

However, efforts to reach the army and traffic police directorate for commentary were not successful by press time after several trials.

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