Mirian Gom 
LAFIA, Nigeria – Ten commercial motorcycle riders have been killed in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, in the past two months, with their motorcycles reportedly stolen after the attacks, according to the chairman of the local riders’ association.
Uba Yahaya, chairman of the Lafia branch of the National Association of Okada Riders, says the Lafia okada killings are part of a growing pattern of attacks targeting commercial motorcyclists across the area.
Yahaya tells Daily Trust that he personally attended the funerals of all 10 victims.
“We ourselves have attended the funerals of ten people. All their motorcycles were taken away! All of them! They were killed,” he says.
He says the attackers use different methods to target riders, including hitting them with clubs and stabbing them.
Yahaya recounts one incident in which a rider was struck with a club along the bypass.
In another case, he says, a rider was stabbed “straight to his heart” before his skull was smashed.
“Some came and were admitted to the hospital with injuries, with their motorcycles taken away,” he adds.
The association chairman says insecurity around Lafia has worsened again despite recent security measures by the Nasarawa State Government that initially provided “some relief”.
“People experienced some relief, didn’t they? But because people relaxed, now the problems have started increasing again,” Yahaya says.
He says most of the attacks now occur at night, particularly between Maghrib and Isha prayers, although some incidents happen during daylight hours.
The association is calling attention to the need for stronger security measures to protect commercial motorcyclists and prevent further attacks.
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Oluwafunbi Bello