By Austin Ogwuda
THERE was pandemonium in Asaba, Delta State capital and the neighbouring Okpanam community today (Monday) as commercial tricycles ‘keke’ and motorcycles ‘okada’ riders operated by Northerners staged violent protest, maiming, destroying property.
The Townhall gathered that the protesters under the aegis Arewa union in Asaba were fighting to break away from the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association in charge of daily ticketing, ensuring that appropriate dues and levies are paid to both the State government and the union as well.
As a result, traffic was disrupted for hours as the rampaging protesters wielding dangerous weapons forced motorists and passersby to run helter skelter.
After storming various parts of Asaba causing mayhem they proceeded to the office of the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association on Summit Road Asaba and physically attacked the members, destroying and looting.
Director General of the Association, Chief Uchenna Okafor, alias Kosoko told reporters that “the Arewa Community they are trying to form their own union so that they can avoid paying money to the State Government.
“Last week Saturday, we got an information that they were about to set up a union that is different from this one the Delta State Government has inaugurated.
“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, generator and phones and ran away”.
Reacting, the Delta State Police Command’s spokesman, Bright Edafe, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP said, “There was a violent protest this morning by Okada riders who had an issue last night with the State Taskforce that led to the death of two persons. They mobilized in their numbers this morning, destroying properties and beating people, hence our men were deployed to control the situation”.
