Okada riders in the satellite towns of Abuja have lamented high spate of insecurity occasioned by recent killings of its members by criminals. They disclosed that the environment they operate is no longer safe due to activities of bike snatchers, adding that these bike snatchers use weapons such as hammer and others to maim their…
Okada riders in the satellite towns of Abuja have lamented high spate of insecurity occasioned by recent killings of its members by criminals.
They disclosed that the environment they operate is no longer safe due to activities of bike snatchers, adding that these bike snatchers use weapons such as hammer and others to maim their victims.
Some the Okada riders who spoke to LEADERSHIP said that in the past few months, working has become a dangerous venture especially at night.
An Okada rider in Zuba, Mohammed Sule said that Okada riders have become a high target by criminals.
Sule said these criminals mount the Okada rider to a destination where they feel safe and either harm the rider or snatch the bike.
He said that many of his colleagues have either loss their motorcycle or lives and in some cases, both live and motorcycle are lost.
Another Okada rider, Aliyu Ayuba said the fear of bike snatchers is the beginning of wisdom in the recent times, lamenting that just last month, one of their member was killed in Gwagwa.
He disclosed that the criminals target those with new motorcycles or money on them, adding that it is the resistance to money or bike that leads to loss of live.
He however, regretted that these criminals have been operating for long time, but the security operatives have not been able to bring them to book.
He therefore, called on the security operatives to up their game and fish the bad elements in the society in order to provide a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive.
When contacted on the matter, the chairman of Okada riders Union Zuba, Shuaibu Abdullahi declined from making official statement, pointing an ugly incident between his former chairman and the authorities over a similar case in the past.
Abdullahi however, agreed that the Okada riders have had to operate in a very crime-filled society as they are being killed by criminal elements who want to take their motorcycle and the little money on them.