Operatives of the Lagos State Task Force over the weekend impounded 98 commercial motorcycles plying restricted routes within Apapa.
The Chairman of the Agency, SP Olayinka Egbeyemi, who disclosed this at the weekend, noted that the enforcement operation was carried out on the directive of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Edgal Imohimi.
He said the enforcement operations were carried out after several warnings issued to commercial motorcycle operators to desists from operating on restricted routes, particularly on highways and bridges.
SP Egbeyemi stated that the government was not comfortable with the flagrant abuse of the law by commercial motorcycle operators, coupled with the report of crime incidents allegedly perpetrated with the use of ‘Okada’ particularly around Apapa, Mile 2, Festac, 2nd Rainbow, Ijesha and Orile-Iganmu.
He said, “These commercial motorcycle operators, no doubt have been a sort of menace as their public nuisance and criminal activities at any time of the day is becoming alarming particularly at Apapa and its environs”.
The Chairman stressed that while some of them harassed innocent members of the public at various bus-stops at Coconut, Wharf, Tincan-Island and Apapa GRA, others engaged in all sorts of criminal acts by dispossessing their passengers of valuables and also robbing innocent motorists during traffic.
The Chairman advised commercial motorcycle unions to screen and weed out the criminal elements amongst them and properly educate their members on the need to strictly adhere to the laws. Egbeyemi informed that the exercise is ongoing as the CP has ordered the Taskforce Chairman to focus his operations more within Apapa until this menace is totally eradicated.
He, however, appealed to residents of Apapa to cooperate with the Taskforce during the exercise and be free to contact him for useful information to rid the Apapa area of the menace.
The residents of Apapa have expressed appreciation to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police for his prompt enforcement directive to check illegal activities of the commercial motorcycle operators who drive against traffic and are found smashing mirrors of vehicles that are on the right of way.
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