Okada restriction: one feared dead as police, Okada riders clash

Braide

Commercial activities were abruptly halted at the Ilupeju area of Lagos State today morning, when a commercial bike rider, otherwise known as Okada rider, was allegedly shot and killed by a policeman.

Eye-witnesses claimed that the Okada rider, who was coming from the Mushin area of the state, with a passenger, had refused to stop, after being flagged down by a policeman at the Ilupeju by-pass.

The policeman was alleged to have blocked the motorbike and attempted to wrest the key from the rider.

While the policeman had fought to snatch the motorbike key, the rider had struggled to keep possession of his key.

In the heat of the struggle, the policeman’s rifle was said to have suddenly gone off, hitting the Okada rider, who died on the spot.

The alleged killing of the man, forced other commercial bike riders to take to the street, chanting songs of protest against the police and Lagos State Government incessant harassment.

A police source however told the Nigerian Compass that the Okada rider did not die. He added that those spreading rumour that he died, were merely trying to heat up the polity.

He added: “The Okada rider was coming from Mushin. He was asked to stop at the Ilupeju industrial area by the policeman, but he refused to stop. Before one knew what was happening, other Okada riders in the Mushin area had gathered and surrounded the policeman. There was a struggle and his gun went off. The bullet hit the policeman, went through him and hit the Okada rider.

“Right now, the two men are in the hospital. The Okada rider was taken to Ikeja General Hospital, while the policeman was rushed to Gbagada General Hospital. If you go to the two hospitals, you’ll see them there!”

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of Path of Peace Initiative, a nongovernmental organisation, Mr. Dandy Eze, condemned the shooting of the Okada rider, he explained that he knew that an Okada rider was shot at Ilupeju, but he was yet to get confirmation whether he was dead or not.

He however insisted that other Okada riders would not have been protesting, if not because their colleague was dead.

He argued that the state government ought to have provided an alternative employment for Okada riders, before placing stiff restrictions of movement on them.

Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, told journalists that though she was yet to get the full fact of the case, she however gathered that there was scuffle between an Okada rider and a policeman, which led to both sustaining injuries.

She added: “Both of them are now in the hospital. I don’t know yet and can’t speak on what actually led to the struggle between the two men.”