Due to the killing
of motorcyclist (Okada man) use for commercial services; colleagues have
threatened to avenge his death.
One of the
deceased commercial motorcyclists, simply identified as Lawal, was allegedly
hit with Voodoo.
Two others,
said to have suffered same fate, had reportedly been discharged from the hospital
and taken to an undisclosed herbal home for further treatment.
Residents had
fled the area. Those that returned and others that stayed back remained
indoors, with their children withdrawn from school. Shops and business centres
were still under lock and key.
‘Lawal wasn’t
working’
One of the
motorcyclists, who gave his name as Benjamin, said 35-year-old Lawal was killed
at Adele Bus Stop.
He said:
“Lawal was not even working on that day (Tuesday). When he was accosted by the
abgeros, he told them he was not working and hence would not pay the N50 levy.
“They
insisted he must pay, which led to a heated argument, during which he was
attacked with local charms.
‘’He spun
several times before falling down dead. Two other persons, who came to know
what the problem was, were hit with the charm. But they did not die, as they
were rushed to a nearby hospital, from where they were transferred to a
traditional home.”
A member of
Landlord/ Resident Association in the community, who spoke on condition of
anonymity, told Vanguard that almost all commercial motorcyclists in the
community were from Kogi State.
‘The touts
were boasting’
He said:
“When the crisis occurred, the touts claimed nobody could do anything to them
because they were omo onile (indegenes), while the motorcyclists are strangers.
“Even when
the aggrieved motorcyclists went to the residence of the mother of the touts
that hit Lawal with charms, she boasted that they could not do anything,
calling them bastards.
“That was
what made them (motorcyclists) set the house ablaze. They proceeded to another
building owned by another tout and also set it ablaze.” Family members of the motor park touts had
abandoned their homes.
Consequently,
the community had to initiate Oro (a night masquerade) to restore peace as
there were reports of plans of reprisal attacks by both parties at midnight.
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