Protest Rocks Delta Community Over Ban of Okada

By Gabriel Elozino

There was heavy Protest yesterday by residents of Kotokoto Layout, one of the biggest in Udu Local government area of Delta state over a proposed ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada from entering the layout.

The protesters who mounted roadblock at the entrance of the layout, chanting lyrics of protest songs and maintained that the ban would not be allowed to stand since it was taken without the consent of the entire landlords and residents.

The protesters halted activities in the area for several hours as no one was either allowed in or out of the layout.

They called on the government to prevail on the leadership of the layout to avoid a crisis situation.

One of the protesters known as Evelyn Umudi, who spoke to our journalist, said that an announcement has been on-going in the layout since December last year on the proposed ban on motorbikes (okada) from entering the layout.

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In her words, “The leadership of this layout took a decision that from on the 1st of February, no okada would be allowed into the layout, only registered tricycles (Keke) would be allowed into the layout.

“The decision was not supported because in the first place the people were not carried along. We were not consulted for our opinions before taking the decision.”

Another protester known as Beauty, said “The stress will be too much, the stress of waiting for Keke in the morning when taking out children to school, okada is better and faster.”

The leader of the security operative in the area known as Matthias was able to calm the protesters and dispatched them by telling them that a meeting would be held soonest to address the issue amicably.