Ado Ekiti witnessed a scene of chaos as a group of commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as okada riders, staged a protest against their association’s leaders. Blocking streets and major junctions in the town, the riders demanded the immediate removal of the current union executives, accusing them of corruption, abuse of power, attacks on fellow riders, and embezzlement of funds.

During an interview with our Correspondent, the protesting riders appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to intervene by dismissing the existing executives and assuming control of the sector. They alleged that the association imposed exorbitant fees for tickets while mismanaging the collected funds. Furthermore, they claimed that the executives had enlisted troublemakers who frequently assaulted and physically harmed riders.

The riders cited a distressing incident wherein one of their colleagues, carrying a passenger, was deliberately pushed by one of these troublemakers while in motion. As a result, both the rider and passenger sustained severe injuries after falling off the motorcycle.

To disperse the protesting okada riders, a team of armed policemen was deployed to the scene. Meanwhile, some association leaders were spotted hiding near the Ijigbo roundabout, presumably to avoid any potential confrontation. However, they declined to comment on the ongoing situation.