The Kano state government has shut down operations of Opay, a ride-hailing company popular for its bike services, alleging non-compliance with state regulations.
The police were reported to have raided the company’s state office on Thursday morning threatening staff and riders who would not vacate the premises with arrest.
Eyewitnesses say tricycle riders who worked for the company were settling accounts for the previous day’s work when armed officers of the law asked them to leave.
The incident comes a month after the Opera-founded startup announced it was expanding its operations to Kano and Aba where it unveiled “OTrike”, a tricycle hailing service.
No official statement has been made by Opay at the time of reporting but Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, spokesman of the State’s Police Command, was reported to have said that Kano state government ordered Opay’s shut down because the company did not abide with local law.
SEGUN ADAMS
