Delta women defend protesting commercial cyclists 0
The arrest of 22 commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada
riders in Oleh, Isoko South council of Delta State by security agents
for protesting against increase in their daily operational tickets from
N70.00 to N150.00 is causing more trouble.
Women in the community numbering over one thousand yesterday rose in defense of the Okada riders as they abandoned their daily activities to demonstrate across the town, demanding for the release of the detainees.
Besides, the protesting women who threatened to go nude if the detained
Okada riders were not released, condemned the hike in the daily levy and
called on the state government to reverse it without further delay.Women in the community numbering over one thousand yesterday rose in defense of the Okada riders as they abandoned their daily activities to demonstrate across the town, demanding for the release of the detainees.
The placard carrying protesters insisted that the increment was detrimental to the wellbeing of commercial motorcyclists.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards include “No more ticket, no more police matching”, “Stop ticket collection”, “No more ticket, leave our children alone”, and Oleh women in general, are against the increment of okada ticket”.
One of the protesters, Agnes Umuro, stressed that “my son is a graduate who have no job for over three years now. He is just managing this Okada work to feed me, if he buy ticket for 150 everyday, how will he balance the person who owns the motor cycle and still feed me?
“We don’t need ticket anymore; they should leave our children alone. Government did not provide job for them; they are just managing themselves with this Okada riding.”
Another protester, Mrs. Felicia Enerieakpoze, said that “government should stop forcing Okada riders to buy ticket. Government has not been able to provide jobs for these children, they are only managing their life through the Okada”.
Police Public Relations Officer of the state police command, DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the arrest said the action of the police was to suppress efforts of some “Okada miscreants” who were out to truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the community.
She however said 15 Okada riders were arrested on account of unlawful assembly, malicious damage and stealing, adding that 28 motorcycles were impounded.
