Commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators in Delta State, led by the Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles Operators Association (COMTOA), on Monday, November 9, 2026, protested at the Delta State Police Command headquarters in Asaba, demanding justice for their colleague, Chinaza Sunday, who was allegedly killed during political violence two days earlier.

The operators also offered to provide video recordings, eyewitness accounts and other relevant information to help investigators identify those responsible for the incident along Nnebisi Road.

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The demonstration followed a violent confrontation during a procession organised by the Obidient/OK Movement in support of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), on Saturday, November 7.

Addressing police officials on behalf of the association, Prince Okeoghene Miller Kingsley, a member of COMTOA’s Board of Trustees, maintained that Sunday was carrying out his legitimate commercial activities when he met his death.

“The young man that was murdered was at his duty post carrying out his legitimate duty, where he met his untimely death,” Kingsley said.

He expressed confidence in the police investigation and called for anyone found responsible to face prosecution.

Kingsley further said the association was prepared to cooperate with investigators by providing footage and information about individuals allegedly connected with the violence.

He 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 said.

The association also defended the right of commercial transport operators to support political parties and movements of their choice, provided their participation remained within the law.

Receiving 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.

Adejo urged the operators to remain calm and warned against taking the law into their own hands, noting that self-help could create further problems.

We have received your petition.

Sometimes self-help can become a serious problem.

We sympathise with you; go home and rest because you will see results.

It is not going to be like other situations, he said.

He also encouraged the association’s leadership to provide credible information that could assist the investigation.

The protest came amid growing disagreement over the circumstances surrounding Saturday’s violence, which the Delta State Police Command said left one person dead and five others injured.

In a statement issued after the incident, police spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, said the command had received intelligence indicating the possibility of violence before the procession.

According to the police, the organisers were invited to a security meeting, briefed on the identified threats and advised against holding an open-road procession.

They were instead encouraged to use a designated venue where adequate security could be provided.

The command alleged that the organisers proceeded with the street procession despite the warning.

It said the violence occurred at about 12.15 pm along Nnebisi Road, adding that officers who responded to a distress call took injured persons to hospital.

Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, also criticised the organisers, saying the confrontation could have been avoided if police advice had been followed.

The state government condemned the violence and called for a thorough investigation and prosecution of anyone found responsible.

It reported that four people were seriously injured, while the police gave a figure of five injured persons.

The NDC, however, rejected the authorities’ account, describing the incident as a deliberate attack on opposition supporters.

The party demanded an independent investigation and questioned why the police, despite reportedly receiving intelligence about possible violence, had not prevented the confrontation.

It also called for the examination of video clips circulating online, alleging that the footage showed individuals attacking vehicles, damaging campaign materials and chasing supporters.

The party maintained that the recordings could help investigators establish how the violence began and identify those involved.

The movement’s Delta coordinator, Favour Emerure, also alleged that suspected political thugs attacked participants during what he described as a peaceful procession.

The allegations have not been established by an official investigation.

Peter Obi called for an investigation, warning against allowing Asaba to become a centre of political violence.

The police had initially said the identities of the deceased and injured persons were yet to be established.

COMTOA subsequently identified the deceased as Sunday, while demanding accountability for his death.

The association’s offer to submit evidence could provide investigators with additional material as they work to establish the sequence of events and determine responsibility.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the incident has renewed concerns about the safety of political gatherings and the need for security agencies to protect citizens exercising their rights to lawful assembly.