Members of the Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles Operators Association (COMTOA) on Monday staged a protest in Asaba, Delta State, over the killing of their colleague, Chinaza Sunday, during a violent clash involving supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and members of the Obidient/OK Movement on November 7.
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The protesters marched from Summit Road to the Delta State Police Command Headquarters, carrying placards and demanding the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the death. The demonstration followed the confrontation along Nnebisi Road, which the police said left one person dead and five others injured.
Key Highlights
- COMTOA members protested in Asaba over the killing of their colleague, identified as Chinaza Sunday.
- The deceased was reportedly a member of the association’s taskforce.
- COMTOA alleged that he was attacked while carrying out his duties at his duty post.
- The police confirmed one death and five injuries during the November 7 political clash.
- The NDC and COMTOA have presented conflicting accounts of how the violence started.
- Delta State Government has called for an investigation and prosecution of anyone found responsible, while police say investigations are ongoing.
COMTOA Members March to Delta Police Headquarters
Videos circulated on social media showed scores of COMTOA members obstructing traffic along Summit Road before marching towards the Delta State Police Command Headquarters in Asaba.
The protesters identified the deceased as Chinaza Sunday, a member of the association’s taskforce, and called on the police to investigate his death and bring those responsible to justice.
Speaking on behalf of COMTOA, a member of its Board of Trustees, Okeoghene Kingsley, said Sunday was at his duty post checking tricycle operators for payment of their daily levies when he was attacked.
“The young man that was murdered was at his duty post carrying out his legitimate duty, where he met his untimely death. Chinaza has not been an armed robber. He has not been a thug or a political thug,” Kingsley said.
At the police headquarters, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Administration, Philip Adejo, assured the protesters that the command would investigate the incident.
He urged the demonstrators to remain calm, avoid taking the law into their hands and provide the police with any information that could assist the investigation.
What Happened During the November 7 NDC Procession?
The protest followed a violent confrontation on Saturday, November 7, along Nnebisi Road in Asaba during a political procession organised by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The police confirmed that one person died and five others sustained injuries during the incident, which occurred at about 12:15 p.m.
The police also said they had received intelligence indicating a possible breakdown of law and order before the procession. According to the command, organisers were invited to a security meeting, briefed about the identified threats and advised against holding an open-road procession.
The police said the organisers proceeded with the march despite the advice. The command subsequently commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the violence and identify those responsible.
COMTOA Taskforce Gives Its Account of the Clash
Chief Uchenna Okafor, Director-General of the COMTOA Taskforce and Monitoring, offered a different account of how the confrontation started.
Speaking to ONE Africa, Okafor said members of his taskforce, who were wearing branded COMTOA jackets, went to the scene after receiving information that a vehicle associated with the NDC procession had allegedly hit a tricycle operator.
He claimed that the taskforce members went to establish what had happened but were attacked by some participants in the procession with cutlasses and knives.
“Our members went there because there was a problem involving one of our operators. They were not there to fight anybody. One of our members sustained very serious machete injuries. He was rushed to FMC, Asaba, but sadly, he did not survive,” Okafor said.
He rejected suggestions that the taskforce members were political thugs, describing such claims as an attempt to distort the circumstances surrounding the incident.
NDC Accuses Delta Taskforce Members of Attacking Campaigners
The NDC, through a statement from the office of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, condemned what it described as an attack on its campaigners during the procession.
The party alleged that armed individuals acting on behalf of political interests in the Delta State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) attacked its supporters.
It specifically accused members of the Oshimili South Keke Taskforce and revenue collection team, allegedly organised by Chief Uche Ndu-Okafor, of carrying out the attack.
The NDC claimed that more than 30 vehicles were damaged and over 10 supporters sustained injuries. It named some of the alleged victims as its State Coordinator, Hon. Favour Emerure, Akpovegho Noah, Ifeoma Enuagwuna and Clinton Ossai.
The party also disputed the circumstances surrounding the death recorded during the confrontation. It claimed that the deceased was among those who attacked its supporters and was lynched after being dragged out of a drainage.
The NDC’s account differs sharply from COMTOA’s claim that Sunday was attacked while performing his duties. These competing accounts have yet to be conclusively established by the police investigation.
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju also criticised a video that emerged after the killing.
Read also:
- Delta Govt Condemns Political Violence In Asaba, Orders Investigation
- NDC Condemns Attack On Members, Supporters In Asaba, Demands Probe, Arrest Of Perpetrators
- Peter Obi Condemns Attacks on NDC Members in Delta, Demands Probe
Delta Government Calls for Investigation and Prosecution
The Delta State Government has called on security agencies to investigate the killing and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, conveyed the government’s position after the State Executive Council meeting in Warri on Monday.
The government condemned the violence and urged security agencies to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and other reported injuries.
It also called on political parties and their supporters to avoid actions capable of threatening public peace and security.
Delta Police Begin Investigation Into Asaba Political Violence
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel E. Erale, condemned the violence and ordered a full investigation into the incident.
The command said its investigation would establish how the confrontation started, identify those involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the death and injuries.
The police also urged political parties and their supporters to avoid open-road processions without adequate security arrangements and to liaise with the command before organising political gatherings.
As of the latest public reports, no arrests had been officially announced in connection with the killing.
The protest by COMTOA members has added pressure on the police to establish what happened during the November 7 clash and ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice.
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