The Borno State Traffic Management Agency (BOTMA) has arrested two suspected phone snatchers operating along Baga Road in Maiduguri, using a tricycle bearing a falsified body number.
According to a statement issued by ASB Mohammed Zanna, the Public Relations Officer of BOTMA, the suspects were apprehended on October 10 while using a tricycle marked BG5389, which was later discovered to be fraudulently tagged.
“A verification exercise conducted through BOTMA’s operational database revealed that the body number belonged to a duly registered and innocent tricycle operator,” the statement said.
The legitimate owner was promptly traced and invited to BOTMA headquarters for further clarification.
Following preliminary investigations, the two suspects were handed over to the Nigeria Police for further investigation and legal action.
The General Manager of BOTMA, Engr. Baba Shehu Tijjani, commended the vigilance of operatives and urged the public to remain alert and report any suspicious activities.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to sanitising the transport sector, promoting discipline among commercial operators, and ensuring the safety and security of commuters across the state.
“BOTMA remains resolute in its mission to enforce transport regulations and uphold order on Borno roads,” the statement added.
