A commercial motorcyclist has reportedly been stabbed to death in the Ijoko area of Ogun State following a disagreement over a N100 ticket with members of a transport union levy collection group, commonly called agberos.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, was said to have started as a minor argument before it escalated into a violent confrontation.
The killing triggered protests by commercial motorcyclists across Lambe, Agbado and Akute communities on Wednesday. Some riders were seen confronting levy collectors in different locations, disrupting transport services and forcing many commuters to trek long distances.
A motorcyclist identified simply as Rasheed told journalists that two people were stabbed during the clash, but only one survived.
“They were fighting over a N100 ticket. It started as a small issue before it became serious. The person who died is a motorcyclist from Nasarawa,” he said.
“His colleagues are now confronting the agberos in Lambe, Ijoko and parts of Akute.”
Another rider in Akute, Ganiyu, also confirmed the incident, stating that tension remained high in the area.
“The man was stabbed to death during the argument. The agbero suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed him,” he said.
“Some riders refused to work today because of what happened. That is why there are fewer okada riders around. The police are aware and even arrested some people during another confrontation.”
A senior police officer, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorised to speak officially, confirmed the incident on Thursday. However, he clarified that the stabbing occurred in Ijoko within the Agbado-Sango axis, not in Akute.
“After the incident, the deceased’s colleagues in Lambe and Akute protested to express their anger,” the officer said.
Efforts to obtain an official statement from the Ogun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, Babaseyi Oluseyi, had not responded to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.
Clashes between commercial motorcyclists and levy collectors have occurred repeatedly in Ogun State, with riders frequently accusing the collectors of extortion and harassment.
In 2023, a similar dispute over increased ticket fees in Akute Bus Stop and Alagbole area of Ifo Local Government led to destruction of property, closure of shops and residents fleeing their homes.
