Police in Lagos State on Thursday clashed with commercial motorcyclists as they began the enforcement of a ban on the operations of the riders, after the order by the State governor.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday announced a ban on the operations of the riders in six local government areas of the state, to take effect from June 1. But what the Police set out to enforce on Thursday was a ban on the operations of the riders on highways in the state.
However, the action of the policemen led to violent protests from the cyclists in the Ojo Local Government Area in the popular Badagry area of the state. Reports say police seized over 200 motorcycles from them.
The motorcyclists, many of whom are of northern origin, resisted attempts by the police to seize their bikes, which led to serious disruption of commercial and social activities in the area.
Videos that have gone viral show tens of the cyclists attacking motorists with sticks, stones, and other weapons, smashing windshields of vehicles. As this continued, motorists could be seen making detours even as their attackers pursued them.
Sanwo-Olu announced the ban on Wednesday at a meeting with the state Commissioner of Police, Area Commanders, and Divisional Police Officers, with a directive for them to enforce the ban.
He said the total ban on Okada riders was on all highways across the six Local Government Areas (LGAs) and nine Local Council Development Areas of the state.
The areas affected are Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, and Apapa.
