1st January, 2023
The Lagos State Taskforce has impounded 8,642 vehicles and 18,537 motorcycles, popularly known as okada in the state in last one year.
Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye, disclosed this why reviewing the operational activities of the agency in 2022.
“In the year 2022, we impounded 8,642 vehicles for various traffic offences ranging from driving on one-way, obstructing the free-flow of traffic, driving on the reserved BRT corridor and parking to pick or drop off passengers at unapproved bus stops in Lagos,” he said.
He said the culprits were all charged to court accordingly.
Jejeloye further said that 2022 witnessed the ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles, popularly known as okada in 9 LGAs and 6 LCDAs within the State, leading to confiscation and seizure of 18,537 motorcycles for operating despite the ban.
“After court proceedings, 17,980 bikes were crushed in Alausa to serve as a deterrent to other intending okada operators.
“It was quite a herculean task enforcing the ban on the operations of okada in Lagos but we were up to the task. We carried out sting operations on various highways and other restricted routes to ensure that their activities were truncated.
A total of 156 riders and 122 passengers were made to face the mobile court for patronizing the unwanted okada operators,” Jejeloye stated.
The Chairman also highlighted some of the lofty feats attained by the Agency in 2022, which were the raid of criminal hideouts, arrest of one-chance syndicate, demolition of shanties posing environmental hazards to Lagosians and bringing the activities of land grabbers in the State to zero.
He further disclosed that the Lagos State Taskforce made series of arrest of unscrupulous individuals who specialised in vandalising both public and private owned properties.
“These are part of the gains achieved as a result of the synergy between agencies of the State Government through providing security backup for them when they encounter hinderance in the process of carrying out their legitimate duties,” he said.