Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in Delta State have staged a protest in Asaba, demanding justice for their colleague, Chinaza Sunday, who was killed during a political clash on Saturday.
The protesters, operating under the Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles Operators Association (COMTOA), marched from Summit Road to the Delta State Police Command headquarters on Monday.
They carried placards and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the death of their member.
Receiving the protesters, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Philip Adejo, assured them that the command would investigate the incident and ensure that justice was served.
Adejo confirmed that the police had received their petition and appealed to the operators not to resort to violence or take the law into their own hands.
He also encouraged the association’s leaders to provide useful information that could help investigators identify those responsible.
Speaking on behalf of the association, a member of its Board of Trustees, Okeoghene Kingsley, said the deceased was carrying out his legitimate business when he was killed.
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He described COMTOA as an organised association that had operated in Delta State for over 30 years, maintaining discipline among its members under successive governments.
Kingsley insisted that Sunday was neither a criminal nor a political thug, adding that the association was prepared to assist the police with relevant information, including video recordings and details of people allegedly involved.
He also defended the right of members to associate with political groups of their choice, provided their activities remained lawful.
The association said it would hold the police accountable for their promise to investigate the killing and prosecute anyone found responsible.
The protest followed a violent incident on Saturday, November 7, along Nnebisi Road in Asaba, during a procession organised by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of Nigerian Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The confrontation reportedly left one person dead and five others injured.
The Delta State Police Command, through its spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, said it had received intelligence indicating a possible outbreak of violence before the procession.
According to the police, the organisers were invited to a security meeting and advised against holding an open street march but allegedly failed to follow the recommendation.
The Delta State Government also blamed the organisers for ignoring security advice, arguing that the incident could have been avoided if the procession had been moved to an approved venue where adequate security arrangements could be made.
However, the Nigerian Democratic Congress rejected the police and government’s explanation, describing the incident as a deliberate attack on opposition supporters.
The party called for an independent investigation, the arrest of those responsible and the public release of information about the deceased and injured victims.
The police had earlier stated that the identities of the victims were yet to be established as investigations continued.
Monday’s protest has further increased pressure on security authorities to investigate the violence and ensure justice for the deceased transport operator.
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