A protest by commercial tricycle and motorcycle riders over union membership in Asaba and Okpanam in Oshimili South and Oshimili North local government areas of Delta State has claimed four lives on its second day on Tuesday.
As of Tuesday morning, the chairman of Building Materials Market, Okpanam, and one of the motorcycle riders, who who were allegedly hit by a Police stray bullet during the protest on Monday, died early Tuesday.
The riders, during their protest on Monday had said they were protesting the untimely death of their colleagues on Sunday night when members of the State Taskforce were enforcing the ban on late-hour operations of commercial tricycles and motorcycles in the State’s capital city, leading to the death of two of their members.
The news of their death had sparked another round of protest by the traders at the building materials market, who were protesting the death of their chairman while the riders also joined to protest the death of their colleague.
During the protest, commercial activities were grounded, shops closed, roads deserted while some tricycles and motorcycles seen working were seized and set ablaze until the anti-riot policemen took control of the entire Okpanam town.
Director-General of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Chief Patrick Ukah, while addressing the protesters, called for calm and appealed to residents of the capital territory for patience and cooperation to enable the state government deal with the issues that led to the rampage.
While sympathising with the traders and commercial tricycle and motorcycle riders over the deaths, however, condemned the action of the protesters for the wanton destruction and vandalisation of property at the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA) Secretariat.
He said the agency was in touch with the office of the SSG, the leadership of COMTOA, and representatives of the Arewa community in the state with a view to resolving issues that led to the protest.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Police Command has arrested eight suspects, while 53 motorcycles were impounded during the Okada riders’ protest.
According to SP. Bright Edafe, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has reaffirmed the command’s commitment to ensuring that the state is peaceful.
“Eight male suspects were arrested, 53 motorcycles were impounded. CP Olufemi Abaniwonda reiterates the negative impact of violent protests on the economic growth of the state,” Edafe stated.
Recall that the protesters had demanded to break away from the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA), leading to conflict among the taskforce and the riders.
