CITIZENS COMPASS —Fe weeks after the launch of the Red Line Rail, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce), on Wednesday, April 12, 2024, clamped down on illegal squatters and recalcitrant commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada riders and impounded 359 bikes at Fagba area of the State.
Spokesman for the Agency, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, in a statement on Wednesday said the no retreat no surrender attitude of the Agency paved the way for the operation which was a follow-up after the launch of the Red Line Rail project of the Lagos State Government.
He said, “The two-day-long operation which was led by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye covered areas like Fagba Rail Track, Iju-Ishaga, Abbatoir and Pen Cinema resulting in the confiscation of bikes that operated on restricted routes, State Highways and Bridges located in those areas.
“The Chairman of the Agency Shola Jejeloye disclosed that miscreants who loiter around the abbatoir supported the okada operators in resisting arrest and causing mayhem to prevent the confiscation of the bikes but were subdued by the tactical and combatant superiority of the Lagos State Taskforce
“It was a complex operation seizing these bikes from their recalcitrant operators due to the presence of miscreants lurking around the abattoir. They threw stones and objects at us to thwart our effort but they were no match for our tactical superiority.” Jejeloye stated.
During the course of the okada operations, the Lagos State Taskforce after a month of launching the Red Line Railway project by the State Government cleared out shanties that had sprung up again along the Fagba Rail track and confiscated bikes that troops out from inner streets to operate along the tracks.
“The presence of okada and shanties along the rail tracks pose significant safety risks to residents, passersby and commuters who choose to patronise both the train and commercial motorcycle. Clearing them completely improves the aesthetic appeal of the rail area and would also mitigate encroachment on rail infrastructure in the State.”
“CSP Shola Jejeloye stated the criminality and hooliganism which is prevalent in these areas are enabled mainly by okada operators and squatters who turn to crime and rob innocent residents and train commuters.
He disclosed that the confiscation of motorcycles would go a long way in reducing crime and incidents of bag snatching which most perpetrators make use of okada as a getaway means.
“The Chairman hinted that the fight against the menace of okada is ongoing in every nook and cranny of the State and no stone will be left unturned till that fight is won.
“We will keep going till every okada operator gets the message that Lagos Highways and other restricted routes are no place for okada. If you want to operate Okada, you either abide by the rules or risk having your bikes impounded”.
