Panic broke out on Thursday in Ajipowo, a suburb of Akure, Ondo State capital, after a commercial motorcyclist, Tunde Ilesanmi, popularly called “Dudu,” was beaten to death by a mob.
Witnesses alleged that the rider was linked to a late-night robbery operation involving two others who managed to escape.
He was pounced on and killed by irate residents who claimed he was a member of the gang.
The mood shifted when his relatives arrived at the scene, insisting he was innocent and known in the community as a regular okada rider.
The development provoked hundreds of commercial motorcyclists, who trooped out in protest and barricaded major roads in the area.
Shops and streets were deserted for hours until police operatives moved in to disperse the protesters and restore calm.
The remains of the deceased were later taken away as peace gradually returned to the community.
About the Author
