Commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada riders went on the rampage yesterday in Ibadan, Oyo State, over the killing of their colleague by a trailer. The motorcyclist was reportedly hit by a cab before he was crushed to death by the trailer. The incident occurred at the popular Iwo Road interchange.
It was said to have been caused by the activities of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs), who were checking documents of commercial vehicles plying the route.
Witnesses and members of the Okada Riders Association said a Lagos-bound trailer crushed the middle-aged motorcyclist to death after he was hit by the cab whose driver was trying to evade inspection by VIO officials. “It was while the VIOs stopped the driver of the Micra cab for checking and he wanted to run away that he hit the Okada rider. “Unfortunately, the motorcyclist swerved uncontrollably and ran underneath the trailer.
The fast-moving trailer crushed him and killed him on the spot,” a witness said. Sensing danger, the VIO officials immediately fled the area. The cab driver also escaped during the commotion.
Angry commercial motorcyclists disrupted free movement of vehicles which led to a gridlock at the ever-busy junction. Not satisfied, they later headed for the Ikolaba office of the VIO at Denton area of Idi- Ape, near the Agodi Government House, where they hoped to attack the fleeing officials. However, before they got there, security men had cordoned off the area, including the VIO office.
The move was to forestall breakdown of law and order. Meanwhile, the body of the motorcyclist, whose identity could not be ascertained at press time, was still lying on the spot where he was crushed to death. But policemen at Idi-Ape told our correspondent that they were on top of the situation.
No comments:
Post a Comment