The Lagos State Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force) impounded 344 commercial motorcycles, commonly known as Okada, within seven days across various parts of the state. This disclosure was made by Mr. Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the Public Relations Officer of the unit, in a statement released on Sunday.
Abdulraheem provided details of the seizures, specifying that the raids resulted in the impoundment of 174 motorcycles in Abule-Ado, 50 motorcycles in Lagos Island, 50 motorcycles in Berger/Grammar School, and an additional 70 motorcycles in the Abule-Egba axis.
He further stated that the unit warned individuals in uniform, including soldiers and police officers, emphasizing their need to adhere to traffic laws. Failure to comply with the existing rules and regulations of the state would lead to prosecution.
The statement highlighted the Task Force’s commitment to bringing the operations of defiant motorcyclists to a complete halt in Lagos. CSP Shola Jejeloye, the agency’s chairman, expressed determination to curb the activities of commercial motorcyclists along certain highways in the state.
Jejeloye emphasized the ban on Okada operations along selected routes and local governments in Lagos, underscoring that commercial motorcyclists should not be allowed to operate freely where their activities are restricted. The chairman stressed that no one, especially individuals in uniform, would be exempt from enforcement.
“We have taken it upon ourselves to end Okada operations in the State, and we are putting all mechanisms in place to ensure we achieve this goal. There is a ban on their activities along selected routes and Local Governments in Lagos; therefore, they should not be allowed to operate as they please. There will be no sacred cows in the enforcement of Okada operations in the State; therefore, any man in uniform caught conveying passengers on a bike for commercial purposes will be thoroughly dealt with. We should be the ones setting the right examples, not breaking them. It will no longer be business as usual,” quoted the chairman.
