LAGOS State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), on Monday, said it has impounded over 382 motorcycles and arrested 103 miscreants in two areas in the state.
The operation was carried out during a raid of some black spots in Festac Town and Sirulere areas of the State.
The Taskforce Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye who disclosed this to Vanguard in a statement, said the operation was carried out during a week long enforcement activities in all the nooks and crannies of Festac Town and Surulere areas.
He said the impounded moyocycles and miscreants have been handed over to the State Police command for prosecution while four other duspects in the first attack had been arraigned and sentenced to two years imprisonment for violating the State Environmental and special offences laws.
Jejeloye lamented that unrestrained speed, gross violation of extant laws of the State Government and other regulations are fast becoming rampant among motorcycle riders in most part of the State.
According to him, the statement became necessary, following a recent attack on men and officials of the Taskforce by suspected miscreants, hoodlums and illegal drug peddlers posing as okada riders during an enforcement for compliance operation at 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos, aimed at curbing the menace of okada riders, raiding of black spots in the area and entrenching sanity in the State.
He disclosed that the incident which occurred at about 11am had some suspected drug peddlers, miscreants, hoodlums in their large numbers who were hellbent on causing chaos rather than allow the Agency carry out her lawful duties and entrenching sanity in the area.
He said several officers sustained varying degrees of injuries while one official vehicle and two private vehicles were burnt. In his words, “The attackers, numbering about 3000, wielding stones, cutlasses, bow and arrows and other harmful weapons dashed out from different darkspots in the area shelled the officers continuously before they were subdued by superior tactical power of the Agency without a gun shot or inflicting any serious injuries on them,”
He further said that for the State to achieve its vision of zero tolerance for menace of okada on restricted routes and rid the State of all criminal activities there must be prompt attention and continuous enforcement on the recalcitrant okada operators.
The CSP assured Lagosians that the Agency remains undeterred in ensuring that the menace of okada riders is over, traffic and environmental offenders brought to the barest minimum if not zero level.
He stated that the incident which occurred though unfortunate, has in no way affected the vision and mission of the Agency in ridding the State of criminal elements.
Similarlly, he said crushing of another set of impounded motorcycles by the Agency will commence on Monday as part of the State resolved to rid the City highways of okada menace.
He said, “These suspected miscreants have shown that they have no regard for laid down laws of the State. We will also show them that we remain resolute in the discharge of our duty. We will continue raiding blackspots, impounding okada plying restricted routes in the State and enforcing all environmental laws to the latter.” said the CSP.
The Chairman urged Lagosians not to exercise any fear during the Yuletide as the Agency will do everything humanly possible to ensure a crime free festive period in the State.
