Protest as Delta task force allegedly kills two motorcyclists
The Delta State Government task force has allegedly killed two motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, at the Koka junction area by Ibusa road, Asaba, the Delta State capital. Okada riders, on Monday, took to the streets to protest the killing of their colleagues, which took place on Sunday, blocking major roads in the Oshimili South and the Oshimili North Local Government Areas of the state.
An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent via text that the deceased motorcyclists were killed in a clash between the Okada riders and officers of the task force on Sunday in a raid of a makeshift bar where they usually hung out. According to him, the task force officers raided the place because motorcycles were banned in the area.
He said, “I was informed that two people were killed by the police last night at a makeshift bar where Aboki people always come to hang out every weekend. I heard the gunshot last night, so, they came protesting this morning. I suspect that they tried to fight the officers who went to bust the place because bikes are not allowed in that area. “Yes, I was at the front of my estate gate when I noticed a sea of Aboki guys protesting the killing of their person by the Nigeria police. They were violent, but in front of my estate, which is Agu mega city estate by GRA police station area, the police did not open fire on any protester.”
Another eyewitness told PUNCH Metro that the task force relocated the motorcyclists from the area, and the bikers were resisting the relocation, which led to the killing of a motorcyclist. He said, “Government task force relocated the Okada riders; so, as a result of that, they were resisting that they could not get passengers where they moved them to. “In the process, one Okada man was killed. Unfortunately, it was a Hausa Okada man who died.
“And his people gathered and started destroying things. The killing happened in the Koka junction, but they moved to post-primary board and midwifery to start destroying things.” When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the killing. He said, “The incident happened yesterday night. It was between the task force and the Okada riders. “Two were killed, and this morning the people started protesting but we are on top of the situation. We are investigating the killing.”
SOURCE: Punch
Aftermath of soldiers killings: Bloodbath in Delta, villagers flee, hide in forests
Residents of Okuama community in Ughelli South Local Government Area, Delta State who fled into the bush where they have been hiding since March 14, yesterday, narrated how soldiers surprisingly opened fire on them and allegedly killed about 50 persons. This came as soldiers backed by seven gunboats, on Sunday, invaded the riverside town of Igbomotoru in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, allegedly in search of suspected militants and razed three buildings.
This is even as Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, visited the embattled Okuama community, yesterday, four days after 16 military personnel, including a lieutenant-colonel, lost their lives in an ambush. The terrified indigenes, who preferred anonymity, said there were many dead bodies in the bush where they were taking cover.
They echoed that the slain military personnel had arrived in two gunboats purportedly for peace talks with the community chairman, and leaders on Thursday, March 14, adding that the community warmly received and offered them kola nut, leading to a peaceful dialogue. It was learned that tension escalated after the military personnel insisted on whisking away the community chairman and some leaders for further questioning after the peace talks, which the people resisted.
The refusal, it was gathered, allegedly angered the military men who opened fire right at the town hall, where they held a meeting with the people, resulting in casualties within the community. The fleeing residents did not, however, explain the role of the community in the dastardly killing of the 16 military personnel later same day but revealed that on March 15, the military returned for a second attack, wherein they set ablaze houses in the community, forcing them to flee.
One resident, who pleaded anonymity, said: “On March 14, military personnel visited Okuama and the people welcomed them. They first said they wanted to walk around the community; they walked around and said they wanted to go to the town hall for a peace talk. The people entertained them as is customary with such visit. “They asked for the community chairman and leaders. They sat with them and they held peace talks together. After that, they asked the community chairman and some other leaders to follow them.
“The people said they had already held peace talks with them, but they said they must take the leaders away. “The community refused, and from there, the army turned the whole story to violence, right there in the community town hall, the army started shooting our people there.
Source: vanguard
