Policemen Flee As Okada Riders Attack Barracks In Ondo State

Chaos erupted in a part of Akure, the Ondo State capital on Wednesday following the clash between commercial motorcycle operators popularly called okada riders and operatives of the Nigerian Police.

Angry okada operators were said to have descended on Division A barrack, prompting police operatives and their families to escape for their dear lives with some even scaling the fence to escape to safety.

It was gathered according to the narration of an eyewitness that trouble initially started when a driver knocked down and killed one Okada rider and his passenger around Arakele area, sparking protest from other Okada riders in the area over the death of their colleague.

The incident was said to have happened near a filling station which prompted a police officer guiding the station to shoot in an attempt to disperse the crowd.

His shot however hit and killed another okada man who was part of the protesters, prompting fresh anger with the Policeman in question fleeing to Division A barrack for refuge.

It was after this that the okada riders launched an attack against the Division A barrack residence in Akure, breaking the gate and hurling stones at the policemen.

They set up bonfires in front of the A Division amidst threats to burn down the facility with the Okada riders insisting on seeing the policeman who killed their colleague.

When contacted, the state police command spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, said she was yet to be briefed about the incident.

Meanwhile, an early morning tanker explosion which occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Wednesday has left five people burnt to death.

The accident which took place at about 4:46am around Tunji Alegi Filling Station Kwakyama corridor of Ogere, Ogun State also had five vehicles parked along the road burnt down.

The unfortunate happening has been confirmed by the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Sector Command of the FRSC, Florence Okpe.