Most Lagos Okada Riders Are Criminals – Police Commissioner

 

The Lagos State Commissioner Of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has said that most criminals in Lagos parade themselves as Okada riders to carry out criminal activities in the state.

This is coming after the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu placed a ban on motorcycles, popularly known as Okadas, in six local government areas of the state on Wednesday.

Reacting to the ban on a Channels Television program, Sunrise Daily on Thursday, Alabi said that most of the riders were unlicensed.

“I want to be emphatic here, most of them are criminals masquerading as okada riders,” Abiodun said

“We have arrested so many of them with locally made pistols in the course of their operations

“They use these okadas to commit a lot of crimes in so many communities; that is why we have been having a lot of dialogue and consultations with their unions,” he said.

“The best way out is to get them off our roads because a lot of them are masquerading as okada riders but are criminals.”

On the negative consequences of the ban, he said, “We know that banning the Okada riders can actually increase the crime rate. And we are not unmindful of that and we are already putting in place a lot of strategies to contend with it,” he said.

We know that it will send a lot of them to unemployment. We are aware of that and are preparing for it.”