Commercial tricycles and Okada riders under the aegis of Arewa Union in Asaba, Delta State, yesterday, protested against the alleged killing of two Okada riders on Sunday.
The protesters accused officials of the Task Force on Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) of committing the killings.
They stormed various parts of Asaba destroying property and other valuables at various offices, including the office of COMTOA, at Summit road, where they attacked members of COMTOA.
They were said to have destroyed vehicles, office furniture and made away with computers and other valuables.
Speaking on the issue, the Director General of COMPOA, Chief Uchenna Okafor (aka Kosoko), alleged that “the Arewa Community are trying to form their own union so that they can avoid paying money to the state government.”
He explained that they got information last week Saturday that they (Arewa Community) were about to set up a union that is different from the one Delta State government inaugurated.
“We called the Special Adviser on Arewa Community and the Sarki of Asaba and they denied. At about 3:00p.m. that day, it was discovered that they had already inaugurated their own Arewa task force and that was how it started.
“They started attacking people paying for tickets through COMTOA, chasing the task force and ticket sellers away, but we were not deterred because the revenue is for the Government.
“On Sunday, we were around the Government Reserved Area (GRA) with the Police to enforce the law against the movement of Keke riders from 10:00 p.m. when we were attacked again and we eventually left the area.
“This morning, about 300 Arewa tricycle riders came to our office to attack us with cutlass, guns, and other arms. They broke doors, windows, stole laptops, generators and phones. They also ran away with motorcycles,” the COMTOA DG said.
Responding, Coordinator of Arewa Community on sales of tickets, Hashima Abubakar said he was not against the sales of tickets, but his people have to negotiate instead of towing the path of chaos.
When contacted, spokesperson for Delta State Police Command, Bright Edafe confirmed the killing, saying the incident happened on Sunday night.
“It was between the task force and the Okada riders. We are investigating the killing as well as controlling the protest,” he stated.
