LAFIA: At least 10 commercial motorcycle riders have been killed in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, within the last two months, with their motorcycles reportedly stolen by suspected criminals, the National Association of Okada Riders has said.
The Lafia branch chairman of the association, Uba Yahaya, disclosed this while speaking on the growing attacks on commercial motorcyclists in the city.
Yahaya said he personally attended the funerals of all 10 victims, adding that their motorcycles were taken after they were killed.
“We ourselves have attended the funerals of ten people. All their motorcycles were taken away. All of them were killed,” he said.
According to him, the attacks have become increasingly violent, with criminals using weapons to overpower riders before taking their motorcycles.
Yahaya recounted several cases, including an incident in which a rider was attacked with a club along the bypass. In another case, he said, a rider was stabbed in the chest and had his skull smashed.
He added that some victims survived the attacks but were taken to hospital with serious injuries after their motorcycles were stolen.
The association chairman said many of the attackers now disguise themselves as passengers or mechanics to gain the confidence of commercial riders.
He also raised concerns that some criminals were allegedly using commercial motorcycle jackets to pose as genuine riders.
Yahaya recalled a recent incident in which a rider was reportedly deceived by criminals who wore riders’ jackets.
According to him, the attackers boarded the motorcycle, assaulted the rider and eventually escaped with the motorcycle.
He further alleged that one suspected criminal had already stolen more than five motorcycles.
The chairman said the attacks were particularly common at night, especially between Maghrib and Isha prayers, although some incidents also occurred during the day.
Yahaya said the security situation had initially improved following measures introduced by the Nasarawa State Government but deteriorated after residents and riders became less cautious.
“People experienced some relief, didn’t they? But because people relaxed, now the problems have started increasing again,” he said.
He added that the association fully supported government measures aimed at restricting late-night movement as part of efforts to protect riders.
A relative of one of the victims, Abduljalal Muhammad, also recounted the killing of his younger brother, Yusuf Muhammad, who was working as an Okada rider in Lafia.
Abduljalal said Yusuf was shot by suspected criminals after picking up a passenger.
He explained that his brother had stopped to collect payment when the attackers allegedly pulled out a pistol and shot him.
The incident reportedly occurred along Makurdi Road, after the Housing Estates area.
Abduljalal said residents later informed the family about the incident, while some brave individuals helped recover the body.
He described the area as increasingly dangerous for commercial motorcycle operators, adding that another relative was also attacked and shot at the same location but survived.
According to him, the victims were originally from Jigawa State and had travelled to Nasarawa to earn a living as commercial motorcycle operators.
The Nasarawa State Police Command has urged commercial motorcycle operators to avoid late-night operations and remain vigilant.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, said many of the attacks occur at night, with criminals allegedly luring riders with promises of unusually high fares.
Nansel explained that criminals may initially pose as genuine passengers and ask riders to travel through several locations before directing them to isolated areas, where accomplices attack and dispossess them.
He urged riders to be suspicious of unusually lucrative fares, particularly at night, and advised them to report attacks promptly to the police.
“Reporting it will assist us in investigation, because if they don’t, we may not know. The police cannot be everywhere. But people are everywhere, he said.
The police spokesperson also disclosed that some recent attacks on commercial motorcycle riders had not been officially reported to the command.
The association and the police have therefore called for greater vigilance among Okada riders, particularly during night operations, amid growing concerns over motorcycle theft and attacks in Lafia.
