By James Sowole
Vehicular movement on major roads in Akure, the Ondo State capital, was disrupted for several hours yesterday, as tipper drivers and owners blocked major roads in protest against the alleged burning of one of the trucks of their colleagues by commercial motorcyclists last Friday.
Commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, had last Friday set ablaze a tipper lorry on Oba Osupa Road following the death of one of their colleagues, who rammed his motocycle underneath a broken down (stationary) tipper on the road.
Also, a passenger, who was on the bike, died in the accident.
The last Friday incident led to a violent confrontation between the Okada riders and tipper drivers leading to injuries on both sides of the parties.
The matter was later brought under control with the intervention of the Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Security Matters, Mr. Jimoh Dojumo.
The matter, however, got worsened yesterday when tipper drivers and owners barricaded major roads in the state capital, insisting that the burnt tipper must be replaced.
The protesters barricaded the roads with their trucks at the A Division junction and NEPA junction, thereby disrupting free flow of vehicles on major roads.
The disruption of the traffic caused confusion on several feeder roads and streets due to several diversions by motorists.
The presence of security agents and government officials couldn’t change their mind as they complained that that government has not invited them for discussion since the accident happened.
The Senior Special Assistant to the governor, Dojumo, said the government was already looking into the matter.
Dojumo disclosed that the government would invite representatives of the motorcyclists and the tipper drivers to a meeting on the matter.
