By Lateef Taiwo
The residents including the users of Okpanam Community road on were held up in tension on Sunday by angry Commercial motorcycle Operators popularly called Okada Riders, following an altercation with the security agents over alleged extortion, others
The Cyclists, the group under unknown umbrella in Okpanam Community, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, had reportedly decried the alleged unlawful impounding of their motorcycles by some security agents including alleged extortion in the area, threatening that unless their motorcycles were released, they will continue to cause mayhem in the area.
Eyewitness said that hundreds of security agents were seen at the scene during the running battle that lasted several hours before peace was brokered by military officials in the midst of gunshots among others. The event was said to have been followed with different perspectives as the road users including over 50 motorcycles were seized penultimate Monday by the Anti-Cult Squad demanding money to get them back. It was gathered that the unrest was as a in results of motorcycles that were forcefully taken by the security Operatives at the weekend including allegedly extorting them which led to peaceful protest at the Police headquarters demanding that their motorcycles be given back to them before settlement.
But the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe confirmed that the issue was amicably resolved adding that the police will not tolerate any breakdown of law and order in the state, and dismissed the allegation of extortion as untrue
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Barr Victor Ebonka has condemned the lynching to three Suspected motorcycle thieves in one week in the areas.
Recall that angry residents of Agbor Kingdom and Boji Boji Owa resorted to extra Judicial Killing of Suspects allegedly caught stealing motorcycles.
But some residents who spoke to Journalists, said that they have lost confidence in the police to handle such matters as those arrested over stolen motorcycles usually go Scot free, adding that burning the thieves alive serves them right, saying that nobody should pity them when stole
It was gathered that a Suspected motorcycle thief was burn alive along imudia street before Ari Imudia Mokow street in Agbor, after a failed attempt to steal a motorcycle. The second suspect , an Idumu Ebor , Owa Alero born, onuwa lucky Alabi was apprehended and set ablaze at the weekend along the New Benin/ Asaba Expressway in Agbor.
According to reports, Onwua had been on the run for motorcycle theft but luck ran out on him when he met the owner of the motorcycle who demanded for his motorcycle and he Confessed that it was in the possession of his accomplice, Odinga , a native of Idumuesah who lives in Owa Alero who was described as very notorious, was beaten to pulp by angry mob thereafter set ablaze
