The incident unfolded when the ticket boy, known as Tunde but commonly referred to as Osama, allegedly attempted to seize the key of the tricycle (Keke) operated by Augustine Williams. Eyewitnesses reported that the situation quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, with Osama grabbing Augustine by the neck during the scuffle.

Augustine Williams subsequently collapsed and was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital, marking a somber end to the dispute.

According to witnesses, the trouble began when Osama tried to confiscate the tricycle operator's key, sparking a heated argument. "Struggle ensued when Osama attempted to remove the Keke key and Augustine held his hand. The situation escalated into a fight, during which Osama grabbed Augustine by the neck, causing him to collapse," a witness recounted.

Expressing concern over the incident, Ese Agbamitor, a commercial tricyclist, lamented that operators are constantly subjected to harassment and various forms of attack by members of the revenue task force.

Meanwhile, the Motorcycle and Tricycle Operators Association, COMTOA, Sapele Chapter, has distanced itself from the tragic incident. The union's vice chairman, Destiny Uhria, clarified in a statement that the suspect involved in the killing of the Keke rider was not a member of their association.

"The association is using this medium to inform the general public that the so-called person is neither a member of the association nor a member of the task force," stated Uhria. He added that the incident occurred at a time when the forum had yet to begin enforcing the arrest of defaulters.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, announced that a suspect had been arrested by the police in Sapele and was currently in detention. The tragic clash serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by tricycle operators in dealing with revenue enforcement measures, and it raises concerns about the potential for such confrontations to turn deadly.