By Blessing Fali
The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, popularly known as the Lagos Task Force, has arrested eight commercial motorcycle operators, known as Okada riders, over an alleged attack on its operatives during an enforcement operation at Apongbon, Marina.
The suspects were reportedly part of a group that resisted the seizure of their motorcycles and allegedly attacked enforcement personnel with broken bottles, machetes, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.
The Task Force said the operation was aimed at enforcing the restriction on commercial motorcycles operating on prohibited routes. Some other suspected criminal elements were also arrested during the operation.
The agency identified the suspects as Buba Umar, Musa Usman, Gambo Dauda, Shagari Bulba, Auwalu Mohammed, Idris Hassan, Wale Yusuf, also known as Babalawo, Ohnosi Osaseti and Sagiru Asiru.
According to the Task Force, some of the suspects admitted that their motorcycles had previously been impounded but said they continued using restricted routes because of the financial benefits.
The Chairman of the Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele, said the suspects would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. He also warned that the agency would continue its enforcement operations against Okada riders using restricted routes and would track down other suspects who escaped during the confrontation.
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