The Delta state government Tuesday warned that it would deal decisively with anyone found breaching the existing peace in the state.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, gave the warning in Asaba while addressing journalists after visiting a wounded victim of violent protests orchestrated by Okada riders.
Flanked by state Commissioner of Police, CP Abaniwonda Olufemi, the state Commissioner for Information, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, Director-General, Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, Chief Patrick Ukah, the Director-General, Security, Hon. David Tonwe, the chief press secretary to the governor, Sir Festus Ahon, and the chairman, Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association (COMTOA), Chief Obi Nzete, the SSG said the state government was working with security agencies and the leadership of the Okada riders to resolve the impasse.
Emu said, “For the past four days, we have been having some significant challenges from the banned okada riders in some designated areas.
“It has become an instrument for robbery. They are banned in certain areas during the day and there is a limit to their operation time. Once it is past 8pm, when the task force that ensures compliance had stopped working, they violate all the regulations and then rob people with short guns and all that.
“So, we decided that we must protect our citizens. We set up a task force between the leadership of the Okada riders and other security agencies. And, on that fateful day, they caught some of them and warned them not to violate the rules again.
“When this taskforce went back two to three days later, on seeing the taskforce team, the Okada riders opened fire on both the security agencies and the taskforce and, in that circumstance, two of the Okada riders lost their lives.”