Okada riders block road over killing of member
Okada riders in Nasarawa State blocked the Mararaba–Nyanya Road on Wednesday in protest after one of their members was shot dead by a vigilante. The victim, identified as Ibrahim Tela, was allegedly killed by a vigilante operative following a dispute involving task force officials who were registering data on commercial motorcycle operators. The confrontation escalated, prompting the motorcycle operators to halt traffic in anger.
State security forces intervened to disperse the crowd and restore order. Police confirmed the shooting, stating the victim was hit by a locally fabricated firearm. Authorities said normalcy had returned, and efforts were ongoing to apprehend the vigilante responsible for the killing.
This incident reflects growing tension between motorcycle operators and local security outfits amid ongoing regulation and data capture exercises. Protests by okada riders over killings or perceived injustice have become recurrent in many states, often paralyzing traffic and raising concerns about accountability and vigilantism.
