Kirkuk police detain 50 delivery riders as company says they were unfairly targeted

KIRKUK — Security forces in Kirkuk’s Dibis district detained 50 delivery riders and seized their motorcycles Friday night, saying the group entered the city without official authorization. According to a statement from Kirkuk Police Command, the riders lacked permits to bring their vehicles into the area and were intercepted while attempting to enter via unpaved routes.

The Dibis anti-crime unit, working with the Iraqi Army’s Eighth Division, carried out the arrests. “Under the direction of Kirkuk Police Chief Lt. Gen. Fattah Mahmoud Yassin Al-Khafaji, units from the Dibis Crime Division and the Eighth Division of the Iraqi Army arrested 50 suspects along with 50 motorcycles they were attempting to bring into the city via unofficial roads,” the statement read. Legal proceedings have begun.

The riders, all employed by the food delivery platform Toters, had traveled from Mosul to Sulaymaniyah as part of a company campaign, according to Toters. Denied entry to Erbil by local authorities, the group was redirected through Kirkuk, where they were stopped in Dibis.

Toters issued a statement defending its employees and rejecting allegations of suspicious activity. “They are delivery representatives working with Toters who strive daily to earn an honest living,” the company said. “Their presence in the photos was not part of any suspicious activity, but a peaceful show of support for a colleague in Sulaymaniyah.”

“There were no weapons, no slogans, no chaos. The photos clearly show no signs of violence or disorder. The riders were wearing company uniforms, helmets, and carrying delivery boxes while on duty,” it added.

The company said the gathering was simply “a peaceful gesture of solidarity,” and emphasized that the riders had committed no legal violations. “Toters believes in the rule of law and is committed to ensuring that its representatives act with the highest level of professional responsibility. We reject any attempt to link the company or its employees to false narratives.”

Jamil Shakour, a Toters employee, told 964media that the riders had traveled to support a company promotion in Sulaymaniyah. “Those riders are our friends. They came to support a campaign offering discounts on all sweets and restaurants,” he said. “They were acting on Toters’ decision to work temporarily in Sulaymaniyah until the promotion ends. What happened to them was unfair and humiliating.”