Kunle Adelabu
What started as a dissagreement over the operational tickets being issued to the commercial motorcycle riders popularly called “Okada” in the local parlance has resulted into the vandalisation of the operational patrol vehicle and motorbike of the Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Joint Task Force (JTF) on Friday.
THE IMPACT gathered that the local security team’s vehicle and bike were destroyed by the Hausa Okada riders who attacked the personnel upon responding to call of a possible breach of peace at the Igbogbo Market where the central park for the commercial motorbike operators especially the Hausas among them is located.
It was also gathered that the fracas ensued due to dissagreement between an Hausa Okada rider and a rates collection officer, following the refusal of the rider to produce his rider’s ticket and other necessary identification upon request by the officer.
The situation, it was gathered degenerated after the Okada rider refused arrest when the said officer insisted on taking him to the council secretariat. Unfortunately, our reporter, also gathered the refusal of the rider led to the officer threatening the Okada rider with gun.
Sources said that the Okada rider dragged the rifle with the JTF officer which led to accidental discharge which hit the ground with pellet injuring two persons including a young child, both who are taken to the hospital for treatment.
Meanwhile, other sources also said that the disagreement stemmed from the refusal of the Hausas who allegedly insist on not paying the ticket levies to union officials on the ground that they are Yorubas.
The JTF, we gathered responded to the distress call before it escalated, unfortunately, the Hausa Okada riders attacked their patrol vehicles on seeing them.
The reinforcement by the JTF and the Nigeria Police to scene, however, led to the Okada riders whom we gathered had blocked part of the Igbogbo/Baiyeku Road and appeared ready for showdown running away which created tension for some minutes.
The situation, was however brought under control in good time as Executive Chairman, IBLCDA, Omo’ba Hammed Aroyewun, mobilised the Nigeria Police Force and other security units to prevent total breakdown of law and order.
Speaking with the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Chairman, IBLCDA, he said that his boss mobilised the DPO, Ikorodu Police Divisional Headquarters, CP Clement Akinola and other security heads, including the JTF, who responded promptly to the occasion to normalise the situation.
Mr Agali, the IBLCDA JTF Commander was also seen leading his men to calm the situation which almost degenerated into ethinc issue as community youths trooped to curtain what they termed “excesses of the Hausa people in the community”
IBLCDA CPS also denied any death was recorded during the unfortunate incident contrary to rumours going round that three or one persons were killed.
