The Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos has been thrown into unrest following a clash between commercial motorcycle riders (popularly called Okada) and the police.
This is coming less than 24 hours after the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwoolu, announced a total ban on the operations of commercial motorcycles in some local government areas in the state with effect from June 1, 2022.
The local governments and local council development areas affected by the ban are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.
A viral video obtained on Thursday, May 19, 2022, by SmartPreneur showed embittered motorcycle operators fighting the police, thereby causing unrest around the Mile Two- Badagry expressway in Lagos. This issue led to traffic gridlock, forcing commuters to be stranded.
The okada riders chased the police with sticks while the men of the force cowered with their guns, retreating. SmartPreneur gathered that two persons are feared dead.
The Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with SmartPreneur but noted that there were no casualties. He said, “Now, police officers were there to enforce the ban on Okada and they impounded over 200 motorcycles. The few motorcycle riders that chose to be confrontational and unruly were arrested. There is no record of casualties, any injured or dead.”
