Another Okada Rider escape death from trigger-happy policemen

A day after policemen shot and killed a commercial motorcyclist popularly known as Okada at the Ilupeju area of Lagos State, similar incident happened Wednesday in Ketu.

However, conflicting reports said it was not a commercial motorcyclist that was shot dead but a commercial bus conductor at the Tipper Garage in Ketu, along Ikorodu Road.

Although, the cause was yet to be ascertained, it was gathered that the victim was allegedly shot dead by policemen attached to the Ketu Police Division.

Meanwhile, THISDAY gathered that the commercial motorcyclist who was shot on Tuesday at Ilupeju died yesterday due to loss of blood.

The incident has brought the total number of commercial motorcyclists so far shot by the police in two weeks to five, thereby raising fears of a volatile protest by the riders.

The last time the riders protested in the city, about three Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) were destroyed.

Attempts to confirm the latest killing from the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ngozi Braide, proved abortive.

However, police sources said the state commissioner of police has expressed displeasure at the way trigger-happy policemen keep bringing disrepute to the force.

Okada Riders Riot in Ibadan Too, No be only Lagos oooo.

Ibadan — It was pandemonium at Apata, Ibadan for several hours on Wednesday morning when commercial motorcycle operators popularly called okada riders clashed with the policemen in the area following what the okada operators tagged the highhandedness of the security operatives in the locality.

At the end of the day, no fewer than seven policemen and two okada operators sustained varied degrees of injuries and they were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention.

But at the Police Station located at Kuola, Apata, five vehicles and seven motorcycles were torched by the aggrieved okada riders.

Eyewitness accounts say that the crisis which lasted over three hours ensued when a policemen made frantic efforts to arrest an okada rider for allegedly carrying two passengers on his motor cycle.

Sources alleged that the policeman hit the okada operator with a piece of wood and eventually effected his arrest when he fell down, a development which met with the anger of other okada operators in the vicinity.

Shortly after, about 45 riders mobilized themselves and stormed the nearby Kuola Police station where the arrested okada man was taken, demanding their colleague. Initially, the invaders were said to be hauling stones and other objects at the police station, until they finally set the station ablaze.

As the attack got out of hand, a reinforcement of ten police Hilux vans loaded with armed policemen and soldiers and one armoured personnel carrier, were dispatched to Apata to quell the disturbance.

The Police team eventually arrested 30 okada riders and took them to the Oyo State Criminal Investigation Department for interrogation.

While the crisis lasted, newsmen were barred from taking photographs while a photo journalist who had taken some pictures was forced by the police to delete it saying he was acting on the orders of the Commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph Mbu.

Reacting to the incident, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state command, DSP Ayodele Lanade insisted that nobody died in the incident just as he explained that policemen were only trying to rescue an okada rider who fell down, an action he said was probably misunderstood by the other okada riders who reacted violently.

The PPRO told journalists that a total of 48 okada riders have so far been arrested in connection with the matter.

Rural Women Empowered Through Agro - Skills in Kaduna

Kaduna — Rural women play a critical role in the rural economies of both developed and developing countries. That was why the Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI), organized a one day training programme for women of the Youth, Orphans and Widow Empowerment organization on fish farming, rearing and cultivation in Kaduna on the international day of the rural women.

The programme involved a field trip for five women to Goddy Farm, Narayi in Kaduna, where they were taught extensively on how they can rear fish to generate income which is expected to facilitate their participation in the rural economy of their communities.

Some of the beneficiaries spoke with our correspondent.

Glory Jacob said: "From the field trip I have learnt not to stay idle and that with a little sum of money I can start a fish farm. I have also learnt that starting a fish farm is less expensive than poultry; this can help me immensely in feeding my family and having a source of livelihood."

Patience Yohanna said: "People always complain of lack of jobs in Nigeria, but with fish farming one can be self employed and also employ others. This will also increase the rate of employment in our communities and the nation at large."

Martina Patrick said: "Women in our communities go into crop farming neglecting fish farming because they don't have an idea about it, with my knowledge I can now start up my own fish farm and also teach others."

The International Day for Rural Women recognizes the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.

In most parts of the developing world, they participate in crop production and livestock care, provide food, water and fuel for their families and engage in off-farm activities to diversify their family's livelihoods. In addition, they carry out vital functions in caring for children, older persons and the sick.

The day of the rural women is celebrated to honour women living in rural areas and explores ways on how these women can be empowered and employed so that they can contribute their quota to the development of the society.