18th October, 2012
There is a disagreement between the Lagos State Police Command and Bamidele Aturu over the ongoing clampdown on commercial motorcycle operators (okada riders) in the state.
While the Police Command says it is fully ready to dislodge okada riders from the routes they are banned from plying across Lagos, Aturu says the clampdown is illegal.
The police finally began the full enforcement of the traffic law on Tuesday by swooping on okada riders and arrested hundreds of them for plying the prohibited routes.
The road traffic law signed by Governor Babatunde Fashola on 2 August, 2012 bans okada riders from plying 475 roads across the Lagos metropolis.
Speaking with P.M.NEWS, Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ngozi Braide said the police were fully ready and up to the task of clipping the wings and lawlessness of okada riders in the state.
“We have begun full scale clampdown on okada riders plying the prohibited routes. This is in compliance with the new road traffic law passed by the state government. You can see what is going on and we are arresting them,” she said.
Braide said the police are ever determined to ensure that okada riders stopped plying the prohibited routes, saying that the traffic law would be enforced to the letter.
“They have to leave the roads that they are prohibited from plying. We are fully ready and out for action,” she said, warning okada riders to stay away from the prohibited routes as the police would sustain the raid on them.
However, Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Bamidele Aturu described the massive clampdown on the riders as illegal especially when there is a pending case in court.
“This clampdown is illegal because there is a case in court which has been adjourned till 24th of this month,” he stated.
Aturu said the current action by the police amounts to lawlessness and callousness meted out to hapless Nigerians.
“My worry is that they should not turn these okada riders to armed robbers by depriving them of their means of sustenance. The police should desist from arresting okada riders. Their action shows disrespect to the court.
“Whoever is sending them should desist from such act. The Lagos state government claims to respect the rule of law. I want to believe the action of the police will embarrass the government.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga