Okada Riders Clash With Police In Abuja

Okada-riders

Commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada, again clashed with the police in Abuja over imposed taxes and dues which they viewed as indiscriminate from their union.

In a clash that recorded no casualty, eyewitness said the Okada riders mounted a road block around Karu market and the CBN junction where they were confronted by policemen from Jikwoyi and Nyanya axis.

The policemen were said to have used tears gas to disperse the crowd, shooting into the air severally for up to 30 minutes.

The clash, which entered its second day, was said to have started on Monday afternoon when a union unknown to the riders allegedly connived with the police to impose and enforce a compulsory due on Okada riders in the area.

An operator, who identified himself as Musa Danladi, said, “We don’t even know this so-called union. They said we should pay N9,500 for helmet and dues, including another N2,000 for vest.”

Sources say the police are working on a peaceful resolution of the matter with top officials of the riders’ union. [VN]