Police shoot to disperse Okada riders protesting killing of colleagues by taskforce in Delta (video)

Operatives of the Delta State Command were caught on camera shooting at aggrieved commercial motorcycle riders protesting the alleged killing of their colleagues by a task force in Asaba, the state capital. 

It was gathered that the group of motorcycle riders took to the streets and major roads on Monday morning, March 18, 2024, destroying properties. 

Businesses around the popular Midwifery market in Okpanam and the Delta State Post Primary Education Board along Sunnis Road, Asaba, were also destroyed.

A viral video from the incident has generated backlash from Nigerians who condemned the reckless shooting by policemen. 

Reacting to the video, the spokesman for the state police command, Bright Edafe said that the police officers were deployed to stop the ongoing protest being held against the taskforce in order to prevent the breakdown of law and order. 

“There was a violent protest this morning by Okada riders who had an issue last night with the state task force that led to the death of two persons,” the PPRO stated. 

“They mobilized in their numbers this morning, destroying properties and beating people, hence our men were deployed to control the situation before it turned into something else.”