By Chioma Obinagwam
Nigerians have lambasted the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for impounding the motorcycles of commercial riders, popularly called “okada” in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria.
Confiance News gathered from a tweet by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Hundeyin, on Friday.
He said,”In continuation of our enforcement of the existing ban on the use of motorcycles in parts of Lagos State, our officers and men today carried out a massive raid around Mile 2 and Apapa Road. We impounded 245 motorcycles and arrested 7 riders. We will not relent!”
Reacting, a tweep said,”Congrats on doing your job. So what’s the plan for those that have just their ‘Okada’ as a means of income. What’s the plan to make sure they don’t enter the streets and add to the prob?”
Corroborating, Asa’ah Emmanuel, “Quick to enforce against bike men, completely non-existent against thugs sworn to disenfranchisement. Where were the massive raids against folks openly threatening voters?”
Wizard of Oz seemed to be more concerned with the accountability of the bikes, he said: “Can you confidently state here that if we ask for records of these bikes by December they will be intact and you can explain what happens to each bike? Not like police officers will make it their own and start doing business with it?”
Phil said, “What’s the government’s plans for these riders that earn a living by Riding Bikes?
Any plans to compensate them?
Would any other means of living be provided to these people?
I don’t like bikes but government should support them to avoid increase in crime rate.”
However, Pindar, appears to be happy with the raid, she said, “Good jobs keep it on, Tuesday coming from Mowe to Lagos I witnessed 2 men okada robbery near Kara , a bus maybe deliberately develop fault,, 2 men snatching a bags from one of the passenger and seized it after he removed cutlass jump on okada moving towards beger buss top.”
Confiance News recalls that the raid on okada began on June 1, 2022 after Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu issued a ban on the commercial motorcycle riders on six Local Government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which include Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa, as well as all the LCDAs under them.
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