Ten people were arrested, on Tuesday, after commercial motorcyclists, known as “okada riders”, clashed with the task force of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency.
Gboyega Akosile, The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed this in a statement.
According to him, the suspects were apprehended in the conflict that erupted in Obanikoro and Ojodu where the task force went on an enforcement raid in Lagos.
Akosile stated that the clash occurred when hooligans joined forces with Okada riders, around Ojodu Grammar School, to prevent the taskforce seizing motorcycles during the enforcement.
He stated further that the Anti-One Way team of the Taskforce also arrested four motorists for driving against the traffic flow.
“96 commercial motorcycles, popularly referred to as ‘Okada’, were confiscated for operating on highways and other restricted routes in the metropolis, in the Tuesday operation,” the statement read in part.
“As the hoodlums, armed with iron rods and broken bottles, approached the Taskforce operatives, the policemen, repelled the attack and dispersed the mobsters.
Read also: 1 Left Dead As Lagos Task Force Clashes With Motorcyclists
“Passersby and residents scampered for safety, as the Taskforce operatives chased the hoodlums. Five suspects were arrested.
“There was tension in the area for several minutes, before normalcy returned. The Taskforce officers remained in the area for hours in a bid to ensure there was no reprisal on residents.
“Also at Obanikoro, Okada riders, on sighting the enforcement team, pelted the Taskforce officers with stones. The policemen arrested four persons who took part in the attack. One person was arrested in Ojota,” the statement continued.
While speaking on the incident, The Chairman of the task force, Police Superintendent, Shola Jejeloye, emphasized his team’s willingness to eradicate road traffic malpractices.
Jejeloye advised okada riders to ply only roads they are allowed to by the government.
He explained that the attack came as no surprise.
“We are not surprised about the attack on us by some hoodlums in Obanikoro and Ojodu for carrying out the mandate given to this team by the Lagos State Government. But, this will never deter us from extending the enforcement to other areas of the States where notorious road users and Okada riders have constituted nuisance.
“We are not after the commercial motorcycles operating in areas where their activities are permitted; we are after those breaking the restriction order and motorists who flout the State’s traffic laws. This is not the first time our men would be attacked, but we will not relent in carrying out the enforcement. Ten of those who attacked us were arrested and they will be duly charged,” Jejeloye stated.
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