Hyacinth Chinweuba
The Lagos Police command has resolved to henceforth arrest and prosecute lawless motorcycle operators in the state.
This decision followed the incident of 30th May, 2018, when some commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada riders, attempted to burn Ibeshe Police Post but ended up burning a police patrol vehicle stationed at a black spot in Ikorodu.
The police authorities in the state at a meeting attended by different okada unions in the state, such as MOALS (Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos state) NAMORA ( Nagari Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association ) and ORWA ( Okada Riders Welfare Association), said it will no longer spare unruly motorcyclists.
During the meeting, which held at the MD Abubakar Conference Hall of the police headquarters, the state commissioner of police, Edgal, decried the attitude of some okada riders who attack members of the public or constituted authorities at the slightest disagreement, and vowed that the police would not only arrest unruly okada riders but ensure that they face the full wrath of the law.
He said motorcycle without licence plate number will be impounded and all commercial motorcycle operators are restricted from plying the highways and the bridges.
“Every commercial motorcycle operator must register with any of the approved unions for the purpose of accountability, easy identification, and must wear an apron which must indicate the union he belongs and bear boldly, his identification number”, he said.
A joint taskforce, comprising the police, the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation and members of the motorcycle unions to oversee the implementation of the resolution reached and the enforcement of the Lagos State traffic laws.
The CP charged members of the union to embark on massive enlightenment of their members before enforcement will begin on 15th of June, 2018, so that they don’t run foul of the law.