A pregnant woman, Zainab Bakare, is receiving medical treatment after officers attached to the Nigeria Police Force, Ajeromi Division, allegedly rammed into the motorcycle conveying her during a raid on commercial motorcyclists along Layinka Street in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the incident occurred on Tuesday, February 18.

According to residents, the officers had positioned their patrol vehicle at a junction in the community, reportedly lying in wait to apprehend commercial motorcyclists plying the route.

During the operation, a motorcycle carrying Bakare approached the junction. In the process, the police minibus allegedly knocked down the motorcycle, causing both the rider and the passenger to fall.

A resident, Moshood Oshunfurewa, who witnessed the incident, said the police vehicle struck the motorcycle from a short distance.

“The incident happened at Layinka Street, by KD Bread, close to Arumoh Street. We were under the LED streetlight at the junction when we saw the officers hit the motorcycle from a short distance. The pregnant woman fell and started crying in pain. We rushed to help her, while the officers allegedly took the motorcycle to the police station,” he said.

Speaking with our correspondent, Bakare said she was returning from a hospital where her sister was in labour when the incident occurred.

“I was coming from the hospital where my sister was in labour. When we got to the T-junction, the motorcycle rider slowed down. Suddenly, a minibus hit us and we were knocked to the ground,” she recounted.

Bakare said she sustained injuries to her arm and leg and was thrown into severe distress over the safety of her pregnancy.

“The police did not show concern when it happened. They were about to take the motorcycle away when residents challenged them because of my condition. That was when they came back,” she alleged.

In a video seen by PUNCH Metro on Thursday, Bakare was seen crying and writhing in pain from the injuries she sustained during the incident.

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it took more than three hours to stabilise the pregnant woman, adding that the conduct of some officers had become a source of concern in the community.

He also noted that Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area is not among the local governments covered by the Lagos State Transport Law restricting commercial motorcycle operations in 10 local government areas and 15 local council development areas.

“While residents support the state’s restrictions, enforcement should not come at the cost of endangering lives,” he said.

Clashes between police officers and commercial motorcyclists have remained a recurring issue in Lagos.

PUNCH Metro reported in December 2024 that tension gripped parts of the Isheri area of the state following a clash between police officers and motorcycle riders. (PUNCH)

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