The incident occurred around the Pepperoni area of Abak Road, Uyo at 12.50pm.
It was learnt that Okon refused to pay for the tickets on the strength that Monday had been declared a public holiday by the Federal Government.
Okon was said to have told the task force men that the Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Godwin Ntukude, had instructed them not to pay for tickets on weekends and public holidays.
A vendor, Mr. Itoro Uwah, told our correspondent that the five men, who were in the team, got angry and started beating Okon.
He added that despite the heavy presence of policemen at the scene, the task force men were undeterred as they unleashed more blows on Okon.
According to him, it was when Okon fell down for a second time and became unconscious that the task force officials took to their heels.
Okon, was, however, said to have been taken to LifeCare Hospital, Nwaniba, Uyo by the policemen.
“I saw them arguing over the right to pay for tickets during public holidays. The tricycle rider told them that they had not been paying any levy during the holiday periods. The next thing we saw was that the task force men started beating the man.
“They beat up the man up to the extent that he felt down and could not stand up. We do not know if the hospital will be able to revive him. His condition was terrible,” he said.
He said if not for the heavy presence of the police men who dispersed crowds and other tricycle operators from attacking the task force men, there would have been breakdown of law and order in the metropolis.
Ntukude, however, faulted Okon’s statment and said the only day the tricycle riders were allowed not to pay for tickets was Sunday.
“I do not think that any normal human being should be thinking of cheating government of N200. It shows that such individual is not appreciative of what the government has done.
“The tricycle riders are supposed to pay from Monday to Saturday. They are only exempted on Sundays,” he said.
Ntukude added that he was not aware of the task force officials beating up Okon.
State Chairman, Tricycle Union of Nigeria, Mr. Sunny Enang, said he was not happy about the development.
He stated that the tricycle operators and the government were yet to reach a dialogue on whether the riders should be asked to pay for tickets on Saturdays and public holidays.
He said, “I am appealing to the tricycle operators to calm down for an arrangement which will be acceptable to all stakeholders to be made.”
Enang stated that Okon had been revived and was discharged from the hospital around 5.06pm.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Mr. Etim Dickson, said the incident was part of the risk people face in the course of their jobs.
He assured members of the public that the police in the state would do all they could to protect lives and property of Nigerians.
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