7 dead as okada riders clash over levy in Ogun State

7 people are feared to have died on Tuesday, August 3, after a fight broke out between some Hausa and Yoruba motorcycle riders in Ogun State.

The violence started between the Okada riders and the union leaders.

Union leaders had increased the ticket fee from N600 to N800 and okada riders operating at the Factory junction at Ibese, Yewa North Local Government Area, objected to the hike.

This quickly degenerated into an ethnic crisis between the Hausas and the Yorubas in the area.

The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the incident on Tuesday, August 3.

Speaking, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said that he could not confirm the number of casualties at the moment.

Oyeyemi said, “The issue is currently under control. It was a minor struggle that had snowballed into a serious crisis.

“They said the unions increased their ticket fee from N600 to N800 and that was how the crisis started. But how it then turned into Hausa and Yoruba crisis is what I don’t know.

“But, we are on top of the matter. The situation has been brought under control. Our men are still there as we speak.”