In reaction to the clash between commercial motorcyclists riders and operatives of the Lagos taskforce, the Taskforce’s spokesperson, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, said the operation to rid the commercial motorcycles was due to public complaints against activities of okada riders in the area.
According to Taofiq, “Yes, the operatives of the agency, based on series of complaints from the public about activities of these Okada riders using their bikes to rob them of their valuables and plying restricted routes as well went out to the area for enforcement.
“After impounding about 74 Okada caught plying one-way and those operating on highway, Okada riders mobilised themselves and attacked officers of the Agency “They damaged beyond repairs two of our vehicles with one of our trucks.
“A Paramilitary officer attached to the Agency (Ganiyu Mustapha) was wounded with broken bottles and cutlass because he mistakenly ran into the mob”
Since the #EndSARS protest, every motorist including Okada riders operates with impunity thereby causing serious traffic gridlock across the state. “We had a stakeholders meeting with the Okada leaders and they made us to understand that all those flagrantly disobeying the laws are not responsible to any associations in Lagos.
“We must all join hands together to salvage the state from the hands of these notorious criminals who uses Okada to perpetuate evil to the public”.
