The Kano State Police Command has warned residents, particularly youths, against roller skating on highways, bridges, road construction sites and other restricted areas across the Kano metropolis, saying violators risk arrest and prosecution.
The command said it had observed a growing trend of roller skating on major roads and other undesignated locations, describing the practice as a threat to public safety.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, the command noted that some juveniles had also been engaging in the dangerous act of holding onto moving vehicles while skating.
According to the statement, “roller skating is a recreational activity, but when carried out on fast-moving roads, it poses a serious threat to the lives of the skaters and other road users.”
The police stated that the practice of latching onto moving vehicles for speed and excitement had resulted in fatal and life-threatening injuries in some parts of the country.
The command identified high-speed traffic, the absence of dedicated skating lanes and juvenile recklessness as some of the dangers associated with the activity.
It explained that major roads were designed for vehicular movement and that roller skates offered limited control and braking ability, thereby increasing the likelihood of collisions with vehicles.
The statement further noted that most highways and bridges currently under construction in the state lacked sidewalks and designated skating paths, making the activity dangerous for both skaters and motorists.
The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, warned those involved in the practice to stop immediately.
“All persons engaging in roller skating on highways, bridges, construction sites, and expressways should desist immediately,” the commissioner was quoted as saying.
Bakori also urged parents, guardians, schools and community leaders to caution children and wards against the practice.
“The Police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anyone found obstructing traffic, endangering public safety, or engaging in acts capable of causing grievous harm to themselves or others,” the statement added.
The command urged members of the public to report reckless skating activities to the nearest police station or through its emergency lines.
