Asaba Killing: Motorcycle, Tricycle Operators Offer Police Video Evidence, Demand Justice for Chinaza Sunday

Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in Delta State have offered to provide video footage and other relevant evidence to assist the police in identifying and prosecuting those responsible for the alleged killing of their colleague, Chinaza Sunday, during political violence in Asaba.

The operators, under the Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles Operators Association (COMTOA), made the offer on Monday during a protest at the Delta State Police Command headquarters, where they demanded justice for the deceased.

Speaking on behalf of the association, a member of its Board of Trustees, Prince Okeoghene Miller Kingsley, said Sunday was carrying out his legitimate business when he was allegedly killed.

He expressed confidence in the police and urged the authorities to ensure that everyone connected to the incident was identified and brought to justice.

“The young man that was murdered was at his duty post carrying out his legitimate duty, where he met his untimely death. We want to believe that we have confidence in the Nigerian Police that they will do justice to this issue and those persons should be brought to book,” Kingsley said.

He added that the association was willing to support the investigation by providing video recordings, relevant information and details of individuals allegedly connected to the incident. Kingsley also rejected suggestions that Sunday or other members of the association were involved in criminal activities or political thuggery.

“Chinaza has not been an armed robber. He has not been a thug or a political thug. Everybody you are seeing here is going about our lawful duties. Nobody here is a thug,” he stated.

Kingsley further maintained that commercial transport operators had the constitutional right to associate with political parties and movements of their choice, stressing that such freedom should not be interpreted as involvement in unlawful activities.

Responding to the protesters, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Philip Adejo, acknowledged receipt of their petition and assured them that the command would investigate the killing. He also urged the association to provide credible information that could help investigators establish what happened.

The protest followed violence on Saturday, November 7, along Nnebisi Road in Asaba during a procession organised by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC). The incident reportedly left one person dead and five others injured, according to the police.

The police and Delta State Government had blamed the organisers for allegedly disregarding security advice against holding an open street procession. However, the NDC rejected the explanations, describing the incident as a deliberate attack on opposition supporters and demanding an independent investigation.

Monday’s protest has intensified calls for a thorough investigation into the incident, with the deceased’s colleagues insisting that those responsible must be identified and prosecuted.