Officials of the Lagos State task force and motorcycle operators, aka ‘Okada’ riders clashed on Tuesday at Second Rainbow area of Mile 2 on Apapa-Oshodi expressway during a raid by the agency.
According to eyewitnesses, the Okada riders resisted attempt by the task force officials to impound their motorcycles. In a bid to express their displeasure, the riders set bonfires on the expressway, leading to gridlock. The clash also paralysed business activities in that axis of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area.
Trouble started when officials of the task force stormed the area in the morning and seized scores of motorcycles, according to Mr. Joshua Emmanuel, chairman, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Second Rainbow branch, Mile 2.
Emmanuel said majority of the riders in that axis were from the north and had come to Lagos to hustle legitimately to eke out a living. “Some of us are not the owners of the motorcycles because most of the motorcycles are on hire purchase, and many of us are still owing.
“The task force came with hoodlums in their vans brandishing cutlasses and they have killed three of our members, just because we are legitimately making a living in the city,” he said.
Abass Muritala, treasurer of the association, said the task force officials focused mainly on impounding brand new motorcycles and left the old and rickety ones. “Now that we are trying to make a honest living, they are making life miserable for us. Please, we urge you to return our bikes to us because we cannot turn to armed robbery,” Muritala said.
Lawal Gida, one of the riders, said three of his motorcycles had been seized in the past and whenever he went to claim them at the agency’s office, he would not meet them there again. Gida said the government should provide jobs for the poor populace if they do not want them riding motorcycles in the city again.
“Nothing has been done to go after Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, armed robbers and kidnappers who are operating with impunity in the northern part of the country. It is innocent citizens trying to make an honest livelihood that they would be oppressing and this is unfair.
Emmanuel said majority of the riders in that axis were from the north and had come to Lagos to hustle legitimately to eke out a living. “Some of us are not the owners of the motorcycles because most of the motorcycles are on hire purchase, and many of us are still owing.
“The task force came with hoodlums in their vans brandishing cutlasses and they have killed three of our members, just because we are legitimately making a living in the city,” he said.
Abass Muritala, treasurer of the association, said the task force officials focused mainly on impounding brand new motorcycles and left the old and rickety ones. “Now that we are trying to make a honest living, they are making life miserable for us. Please, we urge you to return our bikes to us because we cannot turn to armed robbery,” Muritala said.
Lawal Gida, one of the riders, said three of his motorcycles had been seized in the past and whenever he went to claim them at the agency’s office, he would not meet them there again. Gida said the government should provide jobs for the poor populace if they do not want them riding motorcycles in the city again.
“Nothing has been done to go after Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, armed robbers and kidnappers who are operating with impunity in the northern part of the country. It is innocent citizens trying to make an honest livelihood that they would be oppressing and this is unfair.