5 reported killed as traders, okada riders clash in Abuja

At least five persons have been reportedly killed and houses set on fire in a clash between traders and okada riders at Dei Dei, a community in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A resident told Daily Trust that an accident involving a bike man led to the breakdown of law and order in the community.

“Five persons that I know have been killed in this incident. We have been calling for security intervention to no avail,” said the resident who pleaded anonymity.

“We are really worried that this crisis is tilting towards ethnic dimension.”

It could not be independently verify the casualty figure but one of the affected persons confirmed that his house was torched.

The traders were said to have attacked the rider, whom they blamed for recklessness which led to the death of the passenger.

The okada riders’ colleagues reportedly moved to rescue him from the attackers and the situation degenerated afterwards.

Another account has it that the driver of the trailer which crushed the passenger to death was attacked and some persons mobilised to defend him.

It was gathered security operatives have moved to the scene to prevent further violence.

The Abuja incident happened at about the time Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reimposed a ban on Okada riders in some areas of Lagos over the killing of a sound engineer.

The engineer was killed and set ablaze in the Lekki axis of the state last weekend. (Daily Trust)