Okada Riders Protest Killing Of Colleague By KASTELEA Officials

Apprehension and fear gripped the residents of Zaria, a town in Kaduna State on Friday, as hundreds of commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known in parts of Nigeria as Okada riders, staged a mass protest over the killing of one of their member by Kaduna State Traffic And Environmental Law Enforcement Agency (KASTELEA) officials around Alhudahuda College while chasing the Okada rider from Barau Dikko Hospital Tudun Wada, within the Zaria metropolis.

The Okada riders moved to the Emir’s palace in Zaria City to register their protest over the consistent harassment of its members by KASTELEA officials.

The protesting Okada riders said they were being constantly harassed by KASTELEA officials all in the guise of checking for particulars and arrest.


INDEPENDENT learnt from an eyewitness that a KASTELEA operational vehicle in an attempt to arrest an Okada rider, whom they said had committed an offence, mistakenly knocked him down with their vehicle.

According to the source, “In the process of chasing him, he fell down and their vehicle hit him and he died instantly.

“Another woman who sustained an injury during the accident and who has been admitted at ABUTH Kofar Doka Zaria was said to have been inside a Keke Napep when the KASTSELEA vehicle hit them along with the Okadaman.

Bringing the situation under control, the source told INDEPENDENT that the Council Chairman Zaria Local Government, Engr. Aliyu Idris Ibrahim Magani Sai Da Gwaji, after briefing the Emir on the incident, advised the protesters to remain calm and go about their activities.

He assured them that the incident would be investigated and whoever is found guilty will be punished accordingly.