Operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce have impounded 109 commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada, for operating on restricted routes at Second Rainbow, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos State.

Also, the agency said over 2500 illegal Okada impounded in the last three months (January to March 2019) would soon be crushed.

Chairman of the Agency, Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who led the enforcement team at the weekend, said the motorcycles were impounded for violating the Lagos State 2012, Road Traffic Law after several warnings to the riders to desist from operating on restricted routes, particularly highways and bridges across the state.

He disclosed that the action was sequel to series of complaints received from the public on illegal and criminal activities perpetrated by those recalcitrant operators which have become “alarming and must be checked.”

“While some of them harass innocent members of the public at various bus-stops, others engage in all sorts of criminal acts by dispossessing their passengers of valuables such as phones, jewelleries and bags. Also, motorists held in traffic both morning and night around these areas were not spared.”

Egbeyemi stated that total clampdown on illegal activities of those operators on restricted routes would henceforth be vigorously sustained on a daily basis with the full support of other Divisional Police Officers and the Area Commanders across the state.

The chairman warned dispatched riders using power bikes (200cc above) to desist from engaging in illegal commercial activities as anyone caught violating Lagos State Traffic Laws would be prosecuted.

He urged various motorcycle riders’ associations to always on regular basis educate their members on all 475 restricted routes and the life-threatening danger surrounding plying high-ways and bridges.

•Sourced from a Vanguard report