Fear Grips Ejigbo Police Officers As Okada Riders Declare War On Them

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The fate of Police officers at Ejigbo Division is hanging in a balance following the purported declaration of war by the motorcycles operators a. k. a Okada riders over alleged extortion, intimidation and harassment in implementation of traffic laws in Lagos State.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the Okoda riders are angry with the officers of the Division for allegedly turning them to their ATM and raiding them on the roads especially at Jakande Gate, Ejigbo.

The embittered riders alleged that the officers, apart from extorting money from them in the guise of enforcement of traffic laws, they also impound their motorcycles and transfer to the Lagos State Task Force, where the motorcycles are crushed periodically, if they fail to part with certain amount of money. 

According to one of riders, many of their members have lost their motorcycles owing to the alleged extortion, intimidation and impoundment and they had became jobless.

To prove their threats, the riders mobilized their members, vandalized two patrol vehicles and attacked some Police officers while other officers fled for their safety. 
Some of the officers attacked included Inspectors Alulu Tunde, Maurice Cornelius and others, who were said to have been brutally attacked and are receiving treatment in various hospitals since the incident happened.

They reportedly warned the Police to stay away from impounding their motorcycles otherwise they may be forced to kill them one after the other for depriving them of their means of livelihood.

After the attack and warning, it was gathered that the morale of the officers had been very low because they do not know the next action of the riders.

It was also gathered the Police Command has directed the officers to enforce Lagos State traffic laws by impounding Okada for crushing because of their illegal activities on the high way.

However, the Police seem to have recovered from the initial attack from the riders and arrested four of the riders for the attacking and damaging of Police patrol vehicles.

The suspects were Ibrahim Banasho, 25, Rabiu Mustapha, 23, Jimoh Oasis, 43 and Femi Ajayi, 35 while other were said to be at large.

Those arrested were subsequently charged before the Ejigbo Magistrates Court for conspiracy, malicious damage and assault.

They pleaded not guilty. 

The prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan, asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove they actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. E.O. Ogunkanmi, granted them bail with sureties while ordering their remand in correctional centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions. 

The matter was adjourned till 19th January, 2022, for mention and consolidation of the charges. 
Since the defendants were charged before Court and remanded in custody, officers at the Ejigbo Division were said to be apprehensive over other riders, who had earlier threatened to attack them.