A tussle between a member of the revenue taskforce team and a tricycle operator over non-payment of a daily levy of N400 ended in a tragedy on Wednesday in Sapele, Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State.
During a fight, the ticket boy, simply identified as Tunde, but fondly called Osama, reportedly held the tricycle Keke rider, Augustine Williams, by his neck.
The latter reportedly collapsed and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, where he was taken to for medical attention.
Eyewitnesses revealed that trouble started when Osama attempted to seize the tricycle operator’s key, which resulted in a heated argument
“Struggle ensued when Osama attempted to remove the Keke key and Augustine held his hand. The situation escalated into a fight, during which Osama grabbed Augustine by the neck, causing him to collapse,” a witness stated.
Lamenting the unfortunate incident, a commercial tricyclist, Ese Agbamitor noted that operators are constantly subjected to harassment and other forms of attack by the members of the revenue task force.
Meanwhile, the Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association, COMTOA, Sapele Chapter, has denied involvement in the killing of the victim.
A statement signed by the union’s vice chairman, Destiny Uhria, said the suspect involved in the killing of the Keke rider was not their member.
“The association is using this medium to inform the general public that the so-called person is neither a member of the association nor a member of the task force,” he stated.
Uhria said the incident happened at the time the forum was yet to begin to enforce the arrest of defaulters.
The spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed that a suspect had been arrested by the police in Sapele and was being held in detention.
