By Bose Adelaja
CLASHES between policemen and
commercial motorcyclists popularly
called Okada riders are as common
in Lagos as traffic jams. More often
than not, such clashes have led to
injuries and death of innocent
residents, especially commuters. The
situation worsened about two years
ago when the State government
announced a restriction order on
Okada riders, especially on major
routes in the State.
The restriction order prohibits the
Okada from plying 475 roads,
including major bridges. Since the
order came into force, several
commercial motorcycles have been
seized by policemen in a bid to
ensure compliance. The restriction
order which commenced in July
2012, was, according to the State
government, to minimise commercial
motorcycle-related accidents on the
roads.
Meanwhile, reports from various
quarters have it that policemen took
advantage of the situation to make
life unbearable for the average Okada
riders in the State by extending their
enforcement to routes the state
government did not designate as
restricted.
About a year ago, residents of Oke-
Afa, Ejigbo, heaved a sigh of relief
when rehabilitation of the Kudirat
Adenekan Way was completed by the
State government as this has
reduced the usual bumper-to-
bumper traffic jam in the area.
However, Vanguard Metro, VM,
gathers that the joy associated with
this development might be short-
lived. There reason was borne out of
the constant extortion and
harassment of Okada riders by
policemen from both Ejigbo and Isolo
divisions who allegedly regard the
riders their “ATM machines”.
Attempts by the riders to refuse
being thus used have led to several
clashes resulting to destruction of
lives and property in the area.
The residents, through their
Community Development Association,
CDA, have appealed to both the State
government and Lagos State
Commissioner of Police, Umaru
Manko, to save them by restoring
peace to the area.
Investigations by VM revealed that
no fewer than 12 persons, including
three policemen, were injured, while
a building and two police vans were
vandalised during one of the clashes
between the riders and policemen
from Ejigbo division which occurred
on Tuesday August 19, 2014.
Investigations also revealed that the
clash during which dangerous
weapons were used was the outcome
of the resistance by Okada riders to
constant harassment and extortion
by policemen. Presently, many
Okada operators in Oke Afa now ride
with reckless abandon, believing that
they now have the upper hand
following their clash with the police.
The CDA in a statement signed by its
Chairman Mr Oyedipe Dapo, and
titled ‘’Ilamose under siege”, wants
government to address security
situation as well as illegal
conversion of roads and walkways to
markets and motor parks.
‘’We strongly believe that government
has decided to play politics with our
well-being by ignoring the security of
our lives and properties. The Lagos
State Police Command(Ajao Division),
the Lagos State Task Force
on Environment and Special Duties,
the Lagos State Traffic Management
Authority, LASTMA and the Kick
Against Indiscipline, KAI, have all
compromised their professional
integrity for financial gains. The
unfortunate violence unleashed
by commercial motorcycle riders on
Tuesday August 19, against the
Police over extortion within and
around Kudirat Adenekan way,
January 27 bridge and Chivita
Avenue all in Ejigbo and Isolo LCDAs
was a show of shame,” the statement
read in part.
The CDA also said in the
statement: “We understand that some
Okada riders are responsible citizens
and that the state government’s
policy on transportation has
conformed with international practice,
hence we want a situation where they
are identified and membership also
pegged for ease of operation and
identification. We also want to see
visible government intervention
through the Ministry of
Transportation in this regard as many
of them have converted our streets,
drive ways and properties into parks
while constituting nuisance and
security risk to our lives and
properties. Through investigations, it
was revealed that 95 per cent of
these riders do not have vehicle
licence. We would also want to see
the removal of these foreigners, who
do not have no respect for lives and
property. The illegal street market
activities which cause serious traffic
gridlock and dumping of refuse in the
canal are threats to human lives.”