Clash Between Students and Ride-Hailing Drivers at UMI Campus in Makassar, Police Secure 108 People

Makassar, VIVA - The Makassar Police Chief, Commissioner General Arya Perdana, revealed that the protest incident which led to a clash between students and online motorcycle taxi (ojol) drivers at the Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI) campus on Friday night, 25 April 2026, has been professionally controlled.

“I can explain that the incident at UMI yesterday, when there was a protest and then a clash between ojol drivers and students,” he said, quoted on Monday, 27 April 2026.

The trigger for the clash is suspected to be due to UMI students blocking the protocol road Urip Sumoharjo during an action commemorating Bloody Makassar April (Amarah) for quite a long time, causing severe traffic jams that provoked the emotions of drivers and ojol drivers. It is suspected that there was friction between students and ojol drivers during the road access blockade incident.

“Because of that (reason), the road closure was too long so they (ojol drivers) entered (the campus) and there was a confrontation inside, that was after all the students entered (the campus),” he explained.

With the situation out of control, as the crowd had damaged the campus gate to chase the students, police officers acted to secure the situation by asking the crowd not to be anarchic while combing into the campus and securing over a hundred students.

“In total, we gathered around 108 students, and there was also the Vice Rector giving directions, including me giving directions,” he said.

To maintain conduciveness, the over a hundred students gathered inside the campus were prepared to be taken to the Police Headquarters for temporary security, considering that in front of the campus, the ojol crowd was still gathered, fearing repeated friction.

“Because indeed in front there are still ojol drivers, (we) were worried that when they came out one by one, there might be clashes again or unwanted things. So we loaded them onto trucks and brought everyone here (to the police station), the ojol side has also dispersed,” said the police chief.

To maintain security conditions after the incident, Arya said, the over a hundred students who were previously at the Police Headquarters were released on Saturday, 25 April, around 05:30 WITA in good health. While at the Police Headquarters, there was no intimidation or unpleasant treatment; everyone was treated well.