Police Going After Foreigners Operating Okada In Lagos
Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command are after foreigners operating as commercial motorcyclists in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, disclosed this on Friday while parading 13 suspects allegedly involved in various crimes in the last month.
Alabi said that the command was aware of some foreigners operating as motorcyclists in the state, adding that the Police were after them.
Flormedia had reported that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had issued a ban on operations of commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada in some areas of the state.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many of the motorcyclists operating in Lagos and some neighbouring states are Nigeriens, Togolese, Beninese and Chadians.
“We are aware that many commercial motorcyclists operating in Lagos are foreigners and we have commenced routine checks with the aim of profiling them.
“When we finish the profiling, we will hand them over to the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation and possible repatriation,” he said.
On the inflow of motorcycles into Lagos State, Alabi said the command was activating the old strategy by deploying officers to all border towns to check every means of importing motorcycles into the state.
“We are going to carry out the old strategy by ensuring that no motorcycle comes into the state. We will seize any motorcycle found in any vehicle coming into Lagos,” he said.
The police commissioner had on Thursday advised that people should stop giving out motorcycles as means of empowerment, but adopt other meaningful ventures.
Alabi was reacting to the total ban of commercial motorcycles in some local government areas in Lagos.
“People buying Okada (motorcycles) as empowerment for people should have a rethink.
“The fact remains that banning okada in Lagos while some people are bringing them in through empowerment is giving police problems in implementing the already existing laws,” he said.
