10th November, 2023
The Lagos State Taskforce has raided Ajah axis and its environs and impounded 82 motorcycles popularly known as okada for operating illegally on the Lekki-Epe Expressway despite the ban on their activities across all Highways in the State.
The operation which took place at midday was led by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye who disclosed that it was necessary to remind recalcitrant okada operators that the stand of the State Government against their illegal operations across all highways and bridges in the State had not shifted.
He further stated that the agency acted based on credible intelligence gathered which indicated that okada operators had resumed operations along that axis but had been countered by the Agency.
“Okada operations across all highways and bridges in the state are forbidden up till this very day, therefore, anyone caught operating his okada on these routes is committing an offence. We have heard of pockets of activities taking place across selected areas but we assure them that their bikes will be impounded and crushed once the verdict has been given by the court,” he said.
Jejeloye said that some okada operators who were quizzed on why they returned to the highway, stated that they got the go-ahead from some unscrupulous elements in the street who gave them the assurance that they could carry on with their actions as long as they paid a certain daily levy to them.
“Anyone dishing out false assurances to okada operators asking them to get back on the roads is playing with fire and will be brought to book soonest. Okada operations are illegal and anyone caught, whether ignorant or not, will be prosecuted. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse therefore I urge any intending okada operator to have a rethink or risk having his bike impounded and himself arrested.”
Sounding a note of warning to miscreants who are fond of attacking Taskforce operatives carrying out their legal assignments, Jejeloye made it known that an operative of the Agency was seriously injured while in transit from an operation along Mile 2 axis.
He disclosed that the official is in stable condition and vowed to apprehend anyone caught in the act of violence towards any Taskforce official carrying out his legitimate duty.
The Chairman assured Lagosians that the agency would do all within its powers to ensure that motorists will not be made to return to recklessness and insensitive days of okada operations which had finally become a thing of the past.