Protest Erupts in Enugu After Tricycle Driver Dies Following Alleged Task Force Assault

By Globalvoice

A protest erupted in Enugu State on Thursday after a tricycle operator, identified as Mr. Friday Ani, reportedly died following an altercation with revenue enforcement officials at the Garriki Terminal in Enugu South Local Government Area.

Ani, said to be in his early 50s and a father of five, reportedly died on Wednesday night, September 30, 2026, after an incident involving members of a task force responsible for enforcing daily ticket collections at the terminal.

His reported death triggered outrage among commercial tricycle operators, with hundreds of riders taking to the streets on Thursday to demand justice.

The protest reportedly disrupted commercial activities around Garriki, while some transport parks in surrounding areas were forced to shut down temporarily.

How the Incident Happened

Details surrounding Ani's death remain disputed, with accounts differing over what triggered the confrontation.

A source identified as Chika Emeh told Globalvoice that the incident began after a passenger being transported by Ani allegedly alighted before the tricycle entered the terminal.

According to the source, an argument subsequently broke out between the driver and individuals enforcing ticket payments.

Emeh alleged that one of the task force members struck Ani on the head, causing him to collapse.

“According to those who witnessed the incident, a passenger Ani was carrying dropped before entering inside the terminal. This development immediately triggered a quarrel and before you realise what was going on, one of the taskforce officials hit the driver on his head and he slumped,” Emeh said.

He added that Ani reportedly died before he could be taken to a hospital.

Another account circulating in connection with the incident alleged that Ani was assaulted by individuals described as cultists allegedly engaged by terminal operators to enforce revenue collection. That claim has not been independently verified.

Tricycle Operators Demand Justice

Following the reported death, hundreds of tricycle operators took to the streets, demanding that those responsible for Ani's death be identified and prosecuted.

The protest highlighted growing tensions between commercial transport operators and revenue collection officials over ticket payments, enforcement methods and alleged harassment.

The protesters reportedly demanded that the operators of Garriki Terminal identify the individuals involved in the confrontation and assist authorities in bringing those responsible to justice.

Opposition Party Condemns Death

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State condemned Ani's death and called for an immediate investigation.

In a statement, the party said Ani hailed from Umuatugbuoma, Akegbe-Ugwu, in Nkanu West Local Government Area.

The NDC alleged that Ani was attacked after a passenger he was carrying alighted outside the terminal.

“The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State condemns, in the strongest terms, the death of Mr. Friday Ani, who died at Garriki, Enugu, on the night of Wednesday, 30th September, 2026, after he was reportedly assaulted by a member of the Garriki Terminal task force of the Enugu State Government,” the statement said.

The party further alleged that Ani was struck on the head during the confrontation.

His remains have reportedly been deposited at St. Martin's Mortuary, Enugu.

NDC Demands Investigation

Reacting to the incident, Sir Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa expressed sympathy to Ani's family and the wider tricycle operators' community.

“I am deeply pained by the death of Mr. Friday Ani. He left home to earn an honest living and did not return,” Ohaa said.

He extended condolences to Ani's wife, children and relatives, while accusing the state government of failing to adequately protect commercial transport workers.

Ohaa also pledged that the NDC would seek to end what he described as extortion, harassment and intimidation of commercial transport operators if the party comes to power.

The NDC linked Ani's death to what it described as an aggressive revenue collection system under the administration of Governor Peter Mbah, alleging that commercial operators and small businesses have faced excessive taxation and harassment.

Those claims are political allegations by the opposition party and have not been independently established.

The party called on Governor Mbah to direct revenue enforcement officials at Garriki Terminal and elsewhere to operate within the law.

It also demanded a prompt, transparent and thorough investigation into Ani's death, prosecution of anyone found culpable and support for the deceased's family.

Police Yet to Comment

The NDC also urged the Nigeria Police Force to conduct an impartial investigation and establish exactly what happened at the terminal.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Enugu State Police Command were unsuccessful.

The command's spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, reportedly did not respond to calls or a text message seeking confirmation and details of the incident.

With competing accounts emerging over how the confrontation began and who was responsible for Ani's death, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain subject to investigation.

The protests have nevertheless placed renewed attention on the relationship between commercial transport operators, revenue enforcement agencies and terminal operators in Enugu, as demands grow for accountability over the death of the tricycle driver.

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