By Anastacia Eluwa, Asaba
At least two persons were reportedly feared dead on Monday, following a clash between Northern youths protesting the alleged extortion by the Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA).
Nigerian Pilot reports that commercial tricycles and Okada riders under the aegis Arewa union in Asaba, stormed the office of Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA), in Asaba demanding to break away from the state controlled body.
The tricycle and Okada riders from the Arewa community stormed various parts of Asaba causing mayhem, before moving to the office of COMTOA, on Summit road, where they attacked members of COMTOA Taskforce, destroyed vehicles, office furniture and made away with computers and other valuables.
Speaking to newsmen on the development, the Director General of COMTOA, Chief Uchenna Okafor said, “the Arewa Community are trying to form their own union so that they can avoid paying money to the State Government.
“Last week Saturday, we got information that they were about to set up a union that is different from this one the Delta State Government has inaugurated.
“We called the SA on Arewa Community and the Sarki of Asaba and they denied it. At about 3pm that day, it was discovered that they had already inaugurated their own Arewa Taskforce and that was how it started.
“They started attacking people paying for tickets through COMTOA, chasing the taskforce and ticket sellers but we were not deterred because the revenue is for the Government.
“Yesterday, we were around GRA with the Police to enforce the law against the movement of Keke riders from 10pm 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 bikes”, the COMTOA DG narrated.
Also Speaking, the Coordinator of Arewa Community on sales of tickets, Hashima Abubakar said he was not against the sales of tickets but his people should have negotiated instead of towing the path of chaos.
On the alleged killings around GRA, he said he was not aware of any killing but of persons who broke arm and leg.
However, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe has confirmed that there was a violent protest in Asaba by the Arewa Okada riders.
According to the Delta State PPRO, the Okada riders had an issue last night with the State taskforce which resulted in the death of two persons.
“They mobilised in their numbers this morning, destroying properties and beating people”, Edafe stated.
Edafe added that, “policemen have been deployed to control the situation before it turns into something else.”
