An unknown number of commercial motorcyclists and security operatives were injured yesterday in Karu, Abuja, when the riders protested the beating of one of their members by some security operatives attached to the St Mary's Catholic Church.
The subsequent confrontation held up traffic for hours along the busy Nyanya-Karu road all the way to Jikwoyi.
A witness, Jabiru Salisu, said that two people lost their lives including the motorcyclist, but the police denied that anynobody died in the incident.
Some eyewitnesses said trouble started when the commercial motorcyclist refused to disembark and roll his machine past the security checkpoint mounted in front of the church.
A separate account by another witness however said that the motorcyclist had dropped a passenger right in front of the church even with a "no parking" sign erected which infuriated the security personnel who allegedly beat him up after destroying his motorcycle.
Other motorcyclists who witnessed the assault were said to have mobilised their colleagues who besieged the church in large numbers destroying parked vehicles owned by members church and passersby.
In his reaction, Chief of Staff, Directorate of Army Public Relations, Colonel John Agim, told our reporter that no one died in the clash.
"A soldier cautioned a cyclist over an incident and the rider was not happy. So, he mobilized his colleagues who carried placards to protest the soldier's action. Police later dispersed the protesters and there was no casualty. No property was damaged."
Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent Altine Daniel, said "motorcyclists staged a street protest in Karu following an encounter between one of their members and a soldier. The protest was contained and police are investigating the matter."
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