Ojol in a rage! Hundreds of drivers attack and damage UNM campus facilities in Makassar
Makassar, VIVA - The facilities at Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM) were damaged by hundreds of online motorcycle taxi drivers (ojol) after a fellow driver was allegedly beaten by students during a demonstration that blocked the road in front of the campus on Jalan Andi Pangeran Pettarani in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Thursday evening, 5 March 2026.
“The sequence was that we were delivering a food order. From us ojol, we had asked the demonstrators to open the road so we could complete the deliveries. But they did not want to, and then suddenly I was attacked,” said Emil, a driver and victim, quoted on Friday, 6 March 2026.
In addition to not being allowed to pass, the victim was also beaten by a student, and his motorcycle was damaged. His younger brother was also reportedly attacked by them. What possessed the students to unleash such anger remains unclear.
“The motorbike was damaged, smashed. So far only one has been confirmed as damaged; we don’t know if other colleagues’ motorcycles were damaged. My younger brother was also beaten; a medical examination is currently underway and the campus has taken responsibility,” he added.
The attack on the ojol drivers became known after news that a colleague had been beaten by protesting students and that his motorcycle had been damaged in the late afternoon ahead of iftar. The news sparked solidarity among fellow ojol. They retaliated with stones, driving the students back and into their campus.
With hundreds of ojol arriving, they surged into the campus while chasing students who were fleeing. They damaged windows and other facilities on the ground floor of the Pinisi Building while looking for the perpetrators.
Upon learning of the incident, police from Makassar’s Polrestabes were deployed to dampen the vandalism and prevent it from spreading, and to maintain a conducive situation. The Makassar City Police Chief even stepped in to calm the crowd.
“God willing, we will fulfil the wishes of our ojol colleagues,” said Arya Perdana, the Makassar City Police Chief. “We will prosecute the perpetrators (of the beating) and repair the damaged motorcycles.”
He added that the presence of hundreds of ojol was a sign of solidarity with their colleague who had been beaten, particularly since they were out delivering customer orders.
“The incident involved a fellow ojol having a disagreement with the protesters (blocked off). His motorcycle was also damaged. Because of the solidarity among ojol, they gathered to demand justice,” he added.