* Impounds over 382 okada at the scene of attack
By Linus Akomolafe
The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has a doubled effort to end excesses of oladay riders in the coming weeks in the State.
Chairman of Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye said unrestrained speed, gross violation of extant laws of the State Government and other regulations are fast becoming rampant among motorcycles riders in most part of the State.
He added that for the State to achieve its vision of zero tolerance for menace of okada on restricted routes and rid the State of all criminal activities there must be prompt attention and continuous enforcement on the recalcitrant okada operators.
The statement was at the weekend in the Agency headquarters after the Men and Officials of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offenses Unit {Taskforce) were attacked by suspected miscreants, hoodlums and illegal drug peddlers posing as okada riders during an enforcement for compliance operation at 7th Avenue, Festac Town, Lagos, aimed at curbing the menace of okada riders, raiding of black spots in the area and entrenching sanity in the State.
According to a statement from the Director, Public AffairsLagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the incident which occurred at about 11am had some suspected drug peddlers, miscreants, hoodlums in large numbers who were hellbent on causing chaos disturbing the Agency in carrying out her lawful duties and entrenching sanity in the area.
Several officers sustained varying degrees of injuries while one official vehicle and two private vehicles were burnt.
Abdulraheem said the attackers, numbering about 3000, wielding stones, cutlasses, bow and arrows and other harmful weapons dashed out from different darkspots in the area shelled the officers continuously before they were subdued by superior tactical power of the Agency without a gun shot or inflicting any serious injuries on them.
Meanwhile, the reprisal attack was carried out by the Agency officials in a week long enforcement activities in all the nooks and crannies of Festac Town and Surulere where over 382 okada were impounded, 103 miscreants were arrested and handed over to the State Police command for prosecution while 4 other culprits in the first attack had been arraigned and sentenced to two years imprisonment for violating the State Environmental and special offences laws.
The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye who spoke after the incident has assured Lagosians that the Agency remains undeterred in ensuring that the menace of okada riders is over, traffic and environmental offenders brought to the barest minimum if not zero level. He stated that the incident which occurred though unfortunate, has in no way affected the vision and mission the Agency in ridding the State of criminal elements.
In the same vein, the agency has commenced crushing of another set of okada impounded by the Agency as part of the State resolved to rid the City highways of okada menace.
Jejeloye said : “These suspected miscreants have shown that they have no regard for laid down laws of the State. We will also show them that we remain resolute in the discharge of our duty. We will continue raiding blackspots, impounding okada plying restricted routes in the State and enforcing all environmental laws to the letter.” Jejeloye insisted.
The Chairman reiterated and assured Lagosians not to exercise any fear during the yuletide as the Agency will do everything humanly possible to ensure a crime free festive period in the State.
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When in Lagos, do as the Lagosians do
