Developing Story: Chaos In Asaba Over Sales of Commercial Tricycle, Okada Tickets

Commercial tricycles and Okada riders under the aegis Arewa union in Asaba, Monday went berseck as they stormed the office of Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA), at Asaba demanding to breakaway from the state controlled body.

There was palpable apprehension in the capital city as the tricycle and Okada riders from the Arewa community stormed various parts of Asaba causing mayhem, before moving to the office of COMTOA, on Summit road, where they attacked members of COMTOA Taskforce, destroyed vehicles, office furniture and made away with computers and other valuables.

Director General of COMPOA, Chief Uchenna Okafor (aka Kosoko) while speaking to journalists in his office, said “the Arewa Community are trying to form their own union so that they can avoid paying money to the State Government.

“Last week Saturday, we got an information that they were about to set up a union that is different from this one the Delta State Government has inaugurated.

“We called the SA on Arewa Community and the Sarki of Asaba and they denied .At about 3pm that day, it was discovered that they had already inaugurated their own Arewa task force and that was how it started.

“They started attacking people paying for tickets through COMTOA, chasing the task force and ticket sellers but we were not deterred because the revenue is for the  Government.

“Yesterday, we were around GRA with the Police to enforce the law against the movement of Keke rider from 10pm when we were attacked again and we eventually left the area.

“This morning, about 300 Arewa tricycle riders came to our office to attack us with cutlass, guns, and other arms.
They broke doors, windows, stole laptops, generator and phones. They also ran away with bikes”, the COMTOA DG narrated.

Also Speaking, the Coordinator of Arewa Community on sales of tickets, Hashima Abubakar said he is not against the sales of tickets but his people have to negotiate instead of towing the path of chaos.

Asked about the alleged killings around GRA, he said he is not aware of any killing but of persons who broke an arm and leg.

More details soon…