Angry commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada riders, went on rampage in protest against the use of helmets, a policy being enforced by the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC).

The motorcyclists, operating under the aegis of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) in Damaturu, Yobe State, the okada riders did not spare anyone they considered a stakeholder in the enforcement of the use of the crash helmet. According to them, the enforcement of the law was "ill-timed, unnecessary and exploitative".

Their first targets were some unsuspecting officers and men of the FRSC, who, on that fateful Monday were at strategic positions in Damaturu, and begun to apprehend motorcyclists who did not comply with the new rule.

On discovering that dozens of motorcycles had been seized and taken to the state headquarters of FRSC, the motorcyclists called an unscheduled meeting, went out with sticks, clubs and other deadly weapons, began to chase FRSC officials away and took back the motorcycles that had not been taken to FRSC office. Many FRSC officers escaped being lynched by the mob. The motorcyclists equally went after their state chairman, Mallam Umar Barau, whom they accused of "conniving" with FRSC officials to apprehend motorcycles.

They alleged that Barau had procured a bank loan and went to Lagos where he brought back a large consignment of the crash helmets to sell to the motorcyclists in the state.

One of the motorcyclists, Sani Musa, told Kanem Trust that they had decided to fight back after being pushed to the wall by their own leader. "What prompted us to go after our state chairman was to stop him from short-changing us. We were angry with him because he did not show any commitment to the protection of our interest," Musa lamented.

Sani alleged that when Barau realized that members of the union were not ready to purchase the helmets, and that time for the repayment of the bank loan was fast approaching, he made an arrangement with FRSC officials to compel the okada riders to buy.

In the rampage, the mob smashed the union chairman's car which was parked in a garage in his house. Similarly, the Damaturu local government office of the union in the motor park was vandalized by the youths.

The mob later went to the palace of the Emir of Damaturu, Alhaji Hashimi 11 Ibn Umar El-Kanemi, where they reportedly lodged a complaint.

When the FRSC officials realized that the protest was getting out of control, they called in the police who overpowered the mob who had already set up road blocks with burning tyres to restrict movement within Damaturu.

When our reporter visited the A' Division of the Nigeria Police in Damaturu, scores of the youth were seen behind the counter and a senior official at the station said they would soon be charged to court.

"The schedule of the FRSC is more daunting and risky these days but I think they are vulnerable to all sort of unwarranted disgrace because they don't have anything to defend themselves, unlike the police", Chris Ucheli, a trader in Damaturu observed.

He said there was the need for the FRSC men to get more training on self-defence so that when they attempt to enforce the law, they would not be found wanting.

The chairman of the union, Umar Barau, denied the allegation that he conspired with FRSC to ensure the motorcyclists purchased the crash helmets: "It is not true that I procured any loan. To be fair to the FRSC, they have given us enough time to buy the helmets because, in other states, the usage was enforced since January," he said.

He added that he did not have any outlet for selling crash helmets. "Please, just go to the market and see...virtually all spare part shops have the helmet in abundance for sale," he told this reporter.

The chairman also debunked claims by some of his members that the motorcyclists were not given enough time to prepare and save money to buy the helmets. "The FRSC, in collaboration with our office, had carried out extensive sensitization campaign in all the local government areas of Yobe State, " he said.

"Following a lot of meetings, the FRSC had also extended the deadline and if you go to all the neighbouring states, you would realize that the level of compliance is high. I am really confused on the state of affairs here," he added.

Barau, however, complained that several efforts to convince the state government to come to the aid of the members were not successful. "We have written many letters seeking for assistance from the government, either to give our members the helmet free of charge or at a subsidized price, but up till now we are waiting," he said.

He said states like Borno, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and many others in the southern part of the country succeeded in the campaign on the use of helmet because government and other donor agencies directly participated in its procurement and distribution.

"Okada business is such a large enterprise, which has addressed the issue of unemployment, especially among youths who could not get other jobs. We have more than 20,000 registered members in Yobe State and thousands of others are yet to register. I think this is a good omen. You can imagine if all these people would abandon the business!" he remarked.

The FRSC had announced January 1, 2009 as the deadline for all motorcyclists to get helmet as part of measures against head injuries when auto accidents occurred.

However, since the beginning of the enforcement, the level of compliance in Damaturu has remained below one percent, while the resistance in other local government areas is unimaginable.

The head of operations of the FRSC in Yobe State, Mr Joel Tagwa, confirmed that his men were attacked during the operations but reiterated that the enforcement had come to stay.

He said, before the youths went on rampage, over 30 motorcycles had been seized and that their owners must buy helmet, pay a fine before their motorcycles would be released.

"After several warnings, what gives us the impetus to go after them was that we realized that helmets are available in stores but the okada riders don't want to buy, which is an affront on the law", he said.

He pointed out that some of the motorcyclists had the helmets but deliberately kept them at home. "Just few hours ago, one of them came to this office with the helmet after his motorcycle was seized," Tagwa said.

Investigation in Damaturu reveals that the helmets are sold at between N1,500 and N3,000, depending on the quality. Ikechuku Nwanko, a dealer decried that patronage was very low.

"The road safety people advised us to supply the helmets but the okada riders don't want to buy," he complained.

But the motorcyclists have a different view. "They are very expensive, how can I buy a helmet for N3,000? How much am I earning everyday?" Aminu Musa, an okada rider asked.

Simon Joseph said life was very difficult; therefore, the issue of buying a helmet did not even arise. "I have a wife and five children and the machine is not mine. I give the owner N300 everyday and he said he can't afford to part with N3, 000 for a helmet," he complained.

Jibrin Yusuf said he was yet to understand the importance of the helmet. "It is God that protects, not helmet, and I am sure the helmet will not protect your leg, hand or ribs from getting broken whenever you fall down. So what is the essence of wasting money?" he asked.

Further findings reveal that passengers are also not helping because many of them do resist the helmet whenever they are asked to wear it.

Helen Silas, a youth corps member, said it is risky to share helmets, especially the ones used by multiple passengers. "Some passengers have cancer on their heads while many others have other communicable diseases. I want to suggest that government should give every person one helmet free of charge, if they are really serious about the safety of Nigerian citizens," she suggested.

With these diverse interests in Yobe State on the desirability or otherwise of the helmet, it seems the trouble between the FRSC and the dissident okada riders is far from being resolved.