A commercial motorcyclist was allegedly stabbed to death by a member of a transport union levy collection group, popularly known as agberos, following a dispute over a N100 ticket in the Ijoko area of Ogun State, sparking protests across several communities.
The incident occurred Tuesday night after an argument between the victim and levy collectors escalated into a violent confrontation, Nigerian Mirror gathered on Wednesday. It was unclear at press time whether the suspect had been arrested.
The killing triggered protests by commercial motorcyclists in Lambe, Agbado and Akute on Wednesday, with riders confronting levy collectors in parts of the affected areas. Transport activities were disrupted, forcing many commuters to trek to their destinations.
A motorcyclist, who identified himself only as Rasheed, said two people were stabbed during the altercation, though only one died.
“They were fighting over a N100 ticket. It started as a small argument before it escalated on Tuesday night,” he said. “The person who was killed is one of the motorcyclists from Nasarawa. His colleagues are now confronting agberos in Lambe, Ijoko and parts of Akute.”
Another rider in Akute, Ganiyu, confirmed the incident and said tensions remained high.
“The man was stabbed to death by one of the agberos during an argument over the ticket,” he said. “The agbero suddenly brought out a knife and stabbed him. Some riders have refused to work since then, which is why there are fewer motorcycles today. The police are aware and arrested some people during another confrontation.”
A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed the incident on Thursday but clarified that it occurred in Ijoko, within the Agbado-Sango axis, and not in Akute.
“After the incident, the deceased’s colleagues in Lambe and Akute staged protests to express their anger,” the officer said.
Efforts to get official confirmation from the Ogun State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, had not responded to enquiries as of the time of filing this report.
Clashes between commercial motorcyclists and levy collectors are frequent in the state, with riders often protesting alleged extortion and harassment. In 2023, a similar confrontation over increased ticket fees at Akute Bus Stop and Alagbole in Ifo Local Government Area led to the destruction of property, closure of shops and residents fleeing the area.
