by Godwin Akanfe

A fight broke out this morning in Durosinmi Eti Axis of Lekki Phase 1 in Lagos between commercial motorcyclists and shuttle bus drivers.

The fight, which degenerated into a riot, occurred as a result of an attack carried out by commercial motorcyclists on the bus drivers who drive some of the estate’s shuttle buses last night.

The entry route into the estate was blocked by rioters armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons, leaving many stranded outside, causing traffic along the Lekki Expressway.

According to reports, on Thursday, 27 November, Hausa Okada riders attacked bus drivers and shattered the windows of their buses, injuring a few bus drivers in the process.

Early this morning, Friday, 28 November, the drivers would return to retaliate against the Hausa bike riders.

The reprisal attack was said to have led to the burning of several motorbikes.

‘They can’t come here and attack us, we will find you and kill you’, one of the rioters was quoted to have said.

In early November, the Lekki residents association placed a ban on commercial motorcyclists, making public announcements in the estate, explaining that both okada riders and passengers will be arrested if caught.

The whole incident might be interpreted as an ethnic clash since most of the bus drivers are of Yoruba extraction while the okada riders are mainly of Hausa extraction.