Lagos Tames Motor-cyclists

The law restricting the movement of commercial motorcycle (Okada) riders in Lagos is to be enforced without exemption, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, said Wednesday just as he also disclosed that the State Government has vowed to prosecute all those indicted in the recent violent crisis in Mushin Local Government Area of the State.

The Police Commissioner, who disclosed this while briefing Government House Correspondents after a meeting of the State Security Council at the Lagos House, Ikeja,, said the State Government has decided to commence a strict enforcement of the ban on operation of Okada both on specific roads and at specific periods in the State.“We want to go into strict enforcement of the Lagos State laws on movement of Okada as designated in different parts of the State.

We are all aware that there is a law restricting Okada movement by 8 pm within Ikoyi, Ikeja and Victoria Island and by 10 pm generally, Okada are banned to operate in any part of the State”, the Commissioner said.Alkali emphasized that the law also includes men in uniformed warning that the law recognizes no sacred cows.

“We want to be very emphatic that nobody is above the law. Even if our men are arrested during this operation, no one would be treated as a sacred cow”, he said, pointing out that laws are enacted for the people to obey and that appropriate sanctions would be meted out to people who fail to obey the law.“We want to advice, not only Okada users but those who want to go for socials at night that there are other means of transport that are available by State Government and individuals. We have a lot of taxis, Keke NAPEP and a lot of mini buses that are allowed to operate within the confines of the law”, the Police Commissioner added.

On those arrested in connection with the recent violent crisis in Mushin, Alkali said the State Government has decided to prosecute all of them, pointing out that all those who have been arrested in combined operations by the Police “will face the appropriate laws as at when due”.

The Commissioner urged the people to always have confidence in the security agencies and be forthcoming with information to key security officials, adding that they should always have free access to all the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders and even the Police Commissioner.

He also urged the media to always “tread on the path of caution” and ensure that they always report the correct version of events and occurrences because, according to him, “some of such issues sometimes border on national security”.

Among those who were present at the briefing were Director of the State Security Services (SSS), Mr. Achu Ben Olayi, the Commanding Officer, NNS Beecroft, Naval Base, Apapa, Commodore Jonathan Ango, Commander 9 Brigade Ikeja, Brigadier General Sanusi Nasiru Muazu, Airforce Commander, 435 BSG Ikeja, Group Captain Ayo Saad Abdulsalam and Senior Special Assistant on Security, Major Tunde Panox.