By; UTEBOR PETER, Asaba
There was palpable tension in Asaba, the capital city of Delta State as commercial tricycles and Okada riders under the aegis of Arewa Union in Asaba, today, went on the streets as they stormed the office of Commercial Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA), at Asaba, demanding breakaway from the state controlled body.
The riders from the Arewa community stormed various parts of Asaba, creating panic before moving to the office of COMTOA, on Summit Road, where they allegedly attacked members of COMTOA Taskforce, destroying vehicles, office furniture and we’re also alleged to have made away with computers and other valuables.
While speaking to journalist in his office, the Director General of COMPOA, Chief Uchenna Okafor (aka Kosoko) 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.
On his part, 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.
