The Lagos State Taskforce says it has impounded 344 commercial motorcycles, popularly called okada, during a week-long raid in different areas of the state.
Its Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem states this in a statement issued Sunday.
He said during the raid, the task force impounded 174 bikes in the Abule Ado axis, 50 bikes in Lagos Island, 50 bikes in Berger/ Grammar School, and 70 bikes were impounded in the Abule Egba axis.
Abdulraheem vowed to bring the operations of recalcitrant okada operators in the state to a complete halt as it carries out a week-long raid across various parts of the metropolis.
He noted: “The week-long exercise was anchored by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye who vowed to cripple the activities of okada operators. He disclosed that their activities along some highways in the state have continually put the life of commuters along the axis in harm’s way.”
“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.
“It is our resolve in year 2024 to ensure that the terminal end of every enforcement is the court. Therefore, the fixed mindset of all environmental and traffic violators who think they can get away with every infraction through “man knows man” or godfatherism will not be tolerated. Enough is enough.”
Abdulraheem insisted that there would be no sacred cows in the enforcement of okada operations in the state.
He warned that any uniform man caught conveying passengers on a bike for commercial purposes would be thoroughly dealt with.
“We should be the ones setting the right examples not breaking them. It will no longer be business as usual”.
