Following an accident which claimed the life of one of its members, the association now decries a perceived injustice on the part of the Nigerian Police Force.
 
On April 5th this year, a certain Mr. Samir Ain Al Shaibeh, member of the Nigerian Biker Community, died in Maitama, Abuja, as a result of injuries sustained in an accident caused by a car being driven against traffic four days earlier.

Having reported the matter to the police for investigation, bereaved members of the association were shocked to discover that no action had been taken by the Nigerian Police Force against the driver of the car, a certain Victoria Christopher Umoren, who is said to be a lawyer with the National Boundary Commision.

The association, eager to stir the wheels of justice into movement has now raised awareness with the #justiceforsomarcampaign, and released a statement, debunking all the negative reports being peddled about the association, and also asking for the support of well meaning Nigerians in their bid to ensuring that justice is indeed gotten for the deceased Omar.

Below is the complete statement:

On Friday, 1st of April, 2016, along the Yoruba mosque axis of the  Maitama district, a biker, Mr. Somar Ain Al Shaibeh was on an afternoon ride, kitted with his helmet. Unknown to the rider, a woman driving a TOYOTA MATRIX CAR with Plate NumberBW 227 RSH out of impatience was  carelessly driving against traffic as to avoid the traffic gridlock  caused by a mosque on her rightful lane, and decided to drive one-way  through the very dangerous bend. Before the rider could sight the  oncoming vehicle, it was too late and a head-on collision became  unavoidable. He was hit by the woman, unconscious and was rushed to the hospital, and a case was lodged with then Tuesday, April 5, 2016, brother Somar passed on. After his death, the Abuja Riders Community tried to reach the woman through the IPO, Abah Emmanuel, of the Maitama police station, and so many shocking details was revealed to them by the IPO  (Investigating Police Officer). According to the IPO;

1. The woman who caused the accident was neither arrested for wrong driving nor made to leave a statement with the police. She was allowed to leave for her home directly from the hospital where the rider was rushed to.

2. The whereabouts of the woman and her car is unknown as it was not taken to the police station. IPO claims they have orders to lodge accidents cars at the VIO (Vehicle Inspection Office), this is apparently not true as efforts to compel the officer to let the Abuja bikers team to sight the vehicle with the supposed VIO was resisted by the police. The bikers were threatened with arrest if they kept insisting on sighting the vehicle. They also do not have in possession her car papers as well as driver’s license.

3. Asides the woman’s phone number, the police have no other information about her, and all efforts to reach her on phone have been abortive as she refused to answer calls.

4. The car, a TOYOTA MATRIX with plate number BW 227 RSH is suspected to be carrying an illegal plate number. Investigations carried out by the Riders comunity revealed the woman’s Identity as they discovered that her name is Victoria Christopher Umoren and she is a lawyer who works with the National Boundary Commision.

The Riders Community is appealing to well-meaning Nigerians and media outlets not to let this matter be covered up in any form as it indicates, something sinister is already happening. A young man’s life has just been wasted. The Bikers are law abiding members of the society and are ready to release video evidences if the police insist on not taking appropriate action. There are testimonies from eye witnesses at the scene of the accident and picture evidences of events that occurred throughout this period.

If the police refuses to bring this woman to book, the biking community insist that they shall rise up to resist this with all legal means possible so as to ensure that their free right to movement and association is not infringed upon.

They passionately appeal to the public to join hands with them in this noble cause. They also wishes to let the general public to know that they shall call an international press conference within 48hours if the police refuse to do what is legitimate by producing the woman and prosecute the case.

The Bikers wishes to let the general public understand that;

1. Bikers are fun loving hard working Nigerians, you can’t own a bike if you are not hardworking and productive, the notion that bikers are irresponsible and jobless is false and inappropriate.

2. Last week the NTA (National Television Authority) tried to cook up a story that a reckless biker had caused an accident without prior investigation. However, on investigation, the story was found to be untrue. This is how we are daily treated by car users and the media.

3. We shall continue to enlighten the community that biking like every other sport has its own lovers and they should therefore be treated fairly. Power bikes are a means of transportation and users are covered within the ambits of the law to use it as so.

4. The biking community in Abuja and Nigeria wish to call the attention of all media houses, well-meaning Nigerians and the international community to the series of negative actions daily meted by car users and the FCT (Federal Capital Territory)administration on Bikers living in Abuja.

This Passionate Appeal is from the Nigeria Biking Community.