The Plateau State government has announced the suspension of checkpoints by vehicle inspection officers amid rising disagreements between motorists and officers.

Speaking on the development on Saturday, commissioner of transport, Davou Jatau said the decision was necessary to find a lasting solution to the issue.

Mr Jatau, who described recent attacks on vehicle inspection officers as barbaric, condemned the disagreements between motorists and officers.

“The most recent one is the most barbaric, where some officers of the government were beaten blue and black. As a result of recurring assault on staff, we find it so necessary to step down the operations on the field for us to be introspective,” he stated.

Mr Jatau said VIOs were stationed on the streets to ensure commuters reached their destinations safely.

He added, “We want to have commuters board buses and taxis to reach their destinations safely. That’s why we have VIOs on the street.”

The commissioner explained that the government created a complaint unit with dedicated phone numbers to be publicised, enabling motorists to report incidents or grievances regarding VIOs’ conduct.

He noted that recurring assaults on officers violate constitutional rights and threaten the hard-earned peace in the state.

Mr Jatau added that the government is consulting stakeholders, saying it would help address concerns surrounding VIO operations and improve interaction with motorists across the state.