OPERATIVES of the Lagos State Task Force with officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) on Tuesday impounded 196 motorcycles popularly called oka and subsequently arrested 72 riders in an operation that took place around 2nd Rainbow, Festac and Mile 2 areas of the state.
The arrested Okada operators are set to appear before the Lagos Mobile Court, sitting in Oshodi.
Chairman of the Task Force, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen by the Agency’s spokesperson, Mr Taofiq Adebayo, saying that the enforcement operations were jointly carried out based on series of complaints from innocent members of the public on criminal activities perpetrated by these motorcycle riders/operators in the areas mentioned.
According to Egbeyemi, activities of these Okada operators have been on the increased as they terrorised innocent members of the public both day and night by dispossessing them of their valuables such as phone, pieces of jewellery and bags, adding that these operators were found to be responsible for series of attacks on vehicles owners/as well as drivers whenever there was traffic at night around Mile 2 bridge towards Festac.
He has, however, enjoined Okada riders Unions in the affected areas to properly screened out criminals amongst their members and educate them to stop plying any of the restricted 475 routes, which include highways and bridges across the state.
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Egbeyemi equally enjoined private power bike (200cc above) owners/operators and particularly corporate bodies to warn their despatched riders to stop engaging in illegal commercial activities, saying that anyone caught violating any section of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 would be prosecuted.
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