Nasarawa Okada Riders Under Attack: 10 Killed, Motorcycles Stolen in Two Months

Commercial motorcycle operators in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, are facing growing security threats, with the chairman of the local Okada riders’ association claiming that 10 riders have been killed and their motorcycles stolen in the past two months.

The Lafia Branch Chairman of the National Association of Okada Riders, Uba Yahaya, disclosed the figure while speaking on the rising attacks against commercial motorcyclists in the city.

Yahaya said he personally attended the funerals of the 10 victims, all of whom, according to him, had their motorcycles taken after they were attacked.

“We ourselves have attended the funerals of ten people. All their motorcycles were taken away. All of them. They were killed,” he said.

Attackers posing as passengers

Yahaya said the attackers have adopted different methods to target riders, including pretending to be passengers or mechanics.

He recounted cases in which riders were beaten, stabbed or attacked with weapons before their motorcycles were taken.

According to him, criminals have also allegedly started wearing motorcycle jackets similar to those used by legitimate commercial riders to gain the trust of their victims.

He cited a recent incident in which an attacker allegedly disguised himself as a rider before luring another motorcyclist into an ambush.

Yahaya further alleged that some criminals have carried out multiple motorcycle thefts, with one suspected attacker reportedly linked to the theft of more than five motorcycles.

Most attacks occur at night

The association chairman said the majority of the attacks occur at night, particularly between the Maghrib and Isha prayer periods, although some incidents have reportedly happened during the day.

He said security had initially improved following measures introduced by the Nasarawa State Government, but the situation deteriorated after residents and riders became less vigilant.

Yahaya expressed support for government efforts to restrict late-night movement, describing the measure as necessary to protect commercial motorcyclists.

‘My two brothers were victims’

A relative of one of the victims, Abduljalal Muhammad, also recounted the killing of his younger brother, Yusuf Muhammad, who worked as an Okada rider in Lafia.

He said Yusuf was attacked after picking up a passenger and requesting payment.

“He picked up a passenger and when he demanded his payment, they shot him,” Abduljalal said.

He alleged that the incident occurred along Makurdi Road after the Housing Estates area, adding that residents later helped recover the victim’s body.

Abduljalal said another relative was also shot in the same area but survived.

According to him, the victims were originally from Jigawa State and had travelled to Nasarawa to work as commercial motorcyclists.

Police warn riders against night trips

The Nasarawa State Police Command has urged Okada riders to avoid unnecessary late-night operations and remain alert when accepting passengers.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, said criminals often lure riders with promises of unusually high fares before taking them to isolated locations.

He advised riders to be suspicious of passengers offering unusually large payments and encouraged them to report attacks and suspicious activities to the police.

Nansel stressed that timely reporting would help security agencies identify patterns, investigate incidents and track suspected criminals.

He also disclosed that some recent attacks on commercial motorcyclists had not been officially reported to the police.

With motorcycle theft and attacks reportedly increasing, riders and residents are calling for stronger security measures to prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods in Lafia.