‘Okada’ Rider Kills Man Over A Plate Of Rice In Abia, Surrenders Himself To Police

By Chidi Okenwa

A commercial motorcycle operator locally known as Okada rider has shot dead his neighbour in Aba, Abia State over argument of who should be served a plate of rice first by a food vendor at a popular food joint known as ‘Mama Put.’

AtlanticNewsonline learnt that on Monday morning, some people gathered at the shed of a popular food vendor known as Nwanyi-Mong, on Uzomkpa Street, Amaiyi, Owerre-Aba, in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area of the state to eat rice.

Nwanyi-mong was said to be dishing and serving the food on the basis of who came first and everything went on in an orderly manner until when the killer okada man, named Chinenye arrived.

When he entered, according to a source, Chinenye immediately demanded that he should be served regardless of others who were already seated and waiting for their turn.

All entreaties for Chinenye to wait for his turn even when the food vendor had so ruled, could not assuage the young man who insisted he must be served a plate of rice immediately.

At this point, trouble ensued. Another young man from the neighborhood, popularly known as Obereagu, said also to be a commercial motorcycle operator, who had already seated with some other youths before Chinenye came in, insisted that those who came before Chinenye must be served food before him.

A heated argument was said to have occurred which snowballed into a fight between Chinenye and those who opposed his being served first before others, led by Obereagu.

After the fight, Chinenye reportedly retreated to their house, changed his attire and was brought back to the scene by another commercial motorcycle operator believed to be his friend.

It was reported that immediately Chinenye came back, Obereagu who had started eating, noticing danger was lurking, abandoned his plate of rice and attempted to run, but his assailant drew a gun from his jacket and shot Obereagu on the leg, before releasing another bullet that shattered his stomach.

Efforts to get Chinenye apprehended by other youths around proved abortive as he disappeared into thin air, threatening to kill anyone that neared him.

Obereagu was rushed to a private hospital by residents, where he was pronounced dead by doctors.

His death sparked up protests in the area as angry residents went to his family compound and razed down every building there.

The same was done in the compound of the cyclist who brought him on the killer mission.

It was however gathered that by Wednesday morning, the runaway killer okada man had voluntarily given himself up to the Ugwunagbo Police Division.

Abia State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the incident to journalists.