Some commercial motorcycle riders, popularly known as Okada riders, in Babbar Saura community in Chukun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have cried out over their illegal arrest and extortion by the leader of the local vigilante, Abdullahi Umar.
One of the Okada riders who spoke to DAILY NIGERIAN, Mohammed Yusuf, said the vigilante leader recently arrested 11 Okada riders and detained them in a small cell within his residence.
Mr Yusuf said the Vigilante leader accused them of working late hours.
According to the Okada riders, they paid N10,000 before their bikes were released to them after passing a night in the cell.
“He arrested 11 of us on Saturday night and locked us up in a cell within his residence.
“Our offence was that we work during late hours. He told us there is a new rule preventing Okada operations from 9 p.m., and we are not aware of such a law because we usually end our work between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
“After passing a night in his cell, the following morning he asked us to pay N10,000 to ‘bail’ out our motorcycles.
“Initially, he requested N50,000, but after much pleas, he accepted to collect N10,000.
When contacted, the chairman of Babbar Saura vigilante, Abdullahi Umar, denied the allegations.
He alleged that those harbouring criminals in the area are sponsoring a campaign of calumny against them.
He said the community banned motorcycle operations in the area after 9 p.m. due to heightened insecurity in the area, explaining that motorcycle riders were arrested around 11 p.m. and 12:am.
“The people sponsoring these attacks are those harbouring criminals in the area.
“We have banned the movement of motorcycles after 9pm. But you see these guys moving around 11 to 12 am, sometimes even up to 1 am; what are they looking for at odd hour?
“I swear to God, I didn’t collect any money from them. They don’t have the money to give me
“We are doing this work voluntarily to protect our community. Everyday, people are being killed and kidnapped. So why are they against us for fighting crimes in the Babbar Saura if they are not complicit?” he fumed.
