VIO official injures, hospitalises pregnant woman with rascality

A Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) operating on Ahmadu Bello Way Bauchi, Bauchi State, has on December 16, 2024, landed himself in big trouble, and landed a pregnant woman, simply identified as Mrs. James, in even a bigger trouble and hospital after exhibiting a rather rascal behaviour on the road.

The husband, who is personnel of the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), Mr. Kayode James, informed Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) of the incident on Tuesday.

According to Mr. James, the “rascal” VIO officer was later identified as one of the men from Jos Road Sector Command.

Eyewitness accounts said that the yet-to-be-identified officer had stopped a moving tricycle, generally known as “Keke” in Nigeria.

Incidentally, the rider kept moving without stopping.

The reckless officer jumped on the moving machine and started dragging the steering handle with the rider.

The rider sooner lost control of the Keke and crashed.

Before the crash, however, the bewildered woman lost her hold and got flung out of the moving machine, crashing facedown on the ground.

The four-month pregnant woman was bruised and traumatised during the accident and was quickly rushed to hospital.

A visibly shaken James recounts the ordeal as follows to DDM:

“On the 16th of December 2024 my wife set out for work from home to Wunti Market where she was to collect order for the day after she boarded a tricycle.

“On their way they were accosted by VIO officials at Ahmadu Bello Way Bauchi, where they flagged down the tricycle rider but the rider refused to stop.

“All of a sudden the officer reached out to the steering of the tricycle and began to drag with the rider and immediately the rider retaliated also.

“As the tricycle was heading for collision, with a sharp bend ahead on the road, my wife fell out of the tricycle face down with about 4 months pregnancy.

“She injured her face and some parts of her body.

“The VIO were men from Jos Road Sector Command.

“Reaching their station, they initially tried to cover the identity of the officer but later, with strong intervention, he was called upon.

“The VIO officials took her to a nearby hospital for treatment where they paid a token.

“The matter on ground is that the action of the officer is unprofessional of him.

“It’s abuse of office and a gross misconduct,” he explained.

When DDM contacted a human rights activist over the incident involving the VIO official, he advised that the matter be taken to court for proper accountability and compensation.

He said: “Get a lawyer to write the VIO office, demanding for a reasonable amount of money.

“The money should be enough to take the woman to good hospital for proper checkup, being pregnant.

“Afterwards, VIO should be made to pay compensation for endangering the life of an innocent, pregnant woman and the unborn.

“That is what justice demands and that is what the holy book said in Exodus chapter 21.

“Failure to pay, he should then sue VIO to court and make more demands.

“That is the only way to force them to be more careful and professional while carrying out their duties.

“Enough of their rascalities!” he fumed.

The Public Relations Officer of VIO in the state cannot be reached for his response as at the moment of this publication.

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