The death of a commercial motorcyclist (Okada rider) along Upper Erejuwa Road in Warri, Delta State, on Saturday night reportedly sparked off a bloody clash between the police and a legion of the motorcyclists during which eight policemen were injured and two are now on danger list at the Warri Central Hospital.
The police also reportedly lost two rifles to the riotous Okada riders.
Daily Independent
gathered that the motorcyclist, who was suspected to be hypertensive or an epileptic patient, was found dead by the roadside after which the people in the area put a call across to the police. Eyewitnesses informed that on receiving the distress call, the police went to the scene and while examining the dead motorcyclist before taking the corpse into their vehicle, a multitude of motorcycle riders arrived and pounced on the police team. They were said to have given the policemen the beating of their lives and in the process serioulsy injured eight of them before taking away two of their rifles.
The Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Warri �A� Division, Mr Chris Okoro, told our correspondent on Sunday that he had so far bought four pints of blood to save the lives of the injured policemen. The two policemen who were still on blood transfusion and unconscious at the time this reporter visited the hospital are Emmanuel Okem and Monday Omodigie, both Corporals.
The DPO said he has personally examined the body of the late motorcyclist and found no trace of bullet wound, bruises or a cut to suggest that the diseased was killed to warrant the attack on the policemen by the motorcyclists. He however confirmed the arrest of 17 persons, who he said are now undergoing interrogation in connection with the incident. But normalcy has returned to the area.
The corpse of the dead motorcyclist has been deposited at the Warri Central Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.