Many injured as Police, okada riders clash in Ondo community

Many people were reportedly injured on Tuesday during a fracas that occurred in Owo, Owo Local Govenment area of Ondo State between men of the Ondo State Police Command and Commercial motorcycle riders in the ancient town.

DailyPost gathered that for several hours, both economic and social activities were paralysed as a result of the clash, while some people got injured as they were running for their lives.

It was learnt that the trouble began when the patrol van of the police allegedly pursued and knocked the ‘okada’ rider down as the latter was trying to escape arrest for riding an unregistered motorcycle at Owaluwa area of the ancient city.

The source said immediately the news reached the town that the rider had given up the ghost, many of his colleagues trooped out into the street to protest the alleged maltreatment of their colleague.

It was gathered that the motorcycle riders attempted to attack the policemen on patrol and the police stations in the town but were swiftly repelled by the cops on duty.

Reacting to the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PPRO ) of State Police Command, Mr Wole Ogodo denied that there was fracas between the police and people of the town.

He added that there was no case of police van pursuing and knocking down any man who was trying to escape.

Ogodo explained that the police vehicle mistakenly hit the okada man and as a result, he sustained a minor injury, after which he was taken to the hospital by the policemen and given adequate treatment.

“There was no case of any policeman pursuing anybody who was trying to escape arrest, the Okada man was going on his own, our men too were going on their own but on the way, our van mistakenly hit the man on okada, and he sustained a minor injury.

“Immediately, our men rushed him to a hospital where he was treated and discharged on the same day”, Ogodo stated.

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