The Delta State government has banned commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, in its determination to reduce crime rates in the State.
Apart from the State capital Asaba, other areas where the ban is effective include Oshimili South and North, Sapele, Ika, and Uvwie local government areas.
Briefing journalists on Thursday in Asaba,
Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting in Asaba on Thursday, said the objective of the ban is to address the security challenges.
Emu, who noted that the law has been in existence since 2012 but hardly enforced, said: “It is to save lives and property. People have been raped. They vandalize transformers and cables and make residents restless.”
According to him, anyone who violates the ban will be arrested, his motorcycle seized and destroyed and he will be made to face a mobile court.
While threatening to deal ruthlessly with violators, Emu said the ban is not to victimize other tribes or encourage division. The ban, according to him, is deliberately extended to cover other areas and does not affect transport unions.
“There are security men on ground to effect violation. Even Oshimili South and North local government areas have come out with their by-laws to ban scrap metal scavengers,” Emu disclosed.
