Akwa Ibom bans okada movement

The Akwa Ibom Government has banned the activities of scavengers in the state and the use of motorcycles within the metropolis of Uyo, the state capital.

The ban followed the burning of two scrap scavengers to death by irate youths for killing a youth identified as Anietie in Afaha Oku community in Uyo on Sunday.

The scavengers were said to have beaten Anietie to death when he accosted them for entering his compound and taking away items without permission.

Anietie’s brother was said to have raised an alarm over the attack on his brother, forcing irate youths in the area to beat the scavengers to death.

In a press release signed by the Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Dr Emmanuel Ekuwem, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Uyo, the government said operators of the trade had been using it to commit crimes, assault citizens, and threaten peaceful inter-ethnic relationship in the state.

The statement recalled that sometime in 2021, multiple explosions, causing fatalities, were recorded in Oruk Anam Local Government Area in the course of scavengers sorting out what turned out to be military brand explosives in which about four lives were lost.

The SSG explained that the ban of motorcycle operations within Uyo was to emphasise the already existing ban which citizens had constantly disregarded.