Chaos reigned supreme in Minna the capital of Niger State, when angry Okada Riders burned down a unit office of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
According to reports the office was burnt down because of a rumour that an Okada rider was killed by some officials of the FRSC.
Reports further revealed that the late Okada rider tried to evade arrest after infringing on state traffic laws. The accident occurred when a road safety official opened the door of his patrol vehicle to stop the rider from absconding.
More eyewitness reports say the rider crashed to the floor head first alongside his passenger. Both victims were said to have died in a nearby hospital.
After the supposed death of the duo, angry riders mobilised themselves to the FRSC unit office in Minna where they inflicted violence on officers on duty before setting the building alight.
An ambulance unit of the FRSC as well as the office building of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) were also burnt.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the Public Education Officer of the unit, Olugbemiga Bello said officers of the FRSC did not cause the accident.
“The motorcyclist did not die but was injured. The accident was caused by the injured motorcyclist due to recklessness,” Bello said.
The chairman Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria in the area, Umar Amah, however denied the involvement of members of his union in the incident.
“None of our members was around when the building was touched. I personally led away members who besieged the office before the incident occurred.” he said.