Lagos State Task Force will today crush another set of 2,228 commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, impounded recently.
Taskforce Chairma, CSP Shola Jejeloye, disclosed this on Thursday in a statement signed by the Director, Press and Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem.
The statement quoted Jejeloye as saying that the agency would intensify efforts to ensure that all impounded motorcycles are crushed after following the due process.
It further read, “Following the announcement of a total ban on operation of commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada on all highways across six local government areas and nine local council development areas of the state by the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Sanwo-Olu, the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye, has said that the agency will on Friday crush another set of 2,228 impounded motorcycles to further make the enforcement of the ban thorough and effective.
“The chairman stated that the laws are very clear for Okada operators to see that their actions are in complete violation of the Transport Reform Laws of the state.”
Jejeloye said that although a large number of Okada operators had been complying, the taskforce won’t relent because the riders could not be trusted.
Jejeloye added, “Their style of operation is synonymous to guerrilla warfare- when we retreat, they advance, and when we advance, they retreat, but enforcement on the ban has come to stay.
“We will ensure not a single offender operating his okada on the highways will be spared. We will keep watch and continue patrolling the affected parts of the state to ensure they do not get back on our roads.”
The taskforce boss disclosed that the agency impounded over 259 bikes and arrested 18 suspected riders and passengers within the first two days of the ban.
“All the suspects will be prosecuted for violating the state laws. Passengers will not be spared this time around, and they will be charged accordingly in the court of law,” he added.