Okada Riders Invade Police Station, Order DPO To Release Suspect

MICHAEL AKINOLA

Hundreds motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada riders, in Lagos did the unthinkable by invading a Police Station and ordering the DPO to release a suspect, who reportedly assaulted their colleague over N100 change for jungle justice.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Ejigbo Police Division, where the attackers, armed with dangerous weapons, tried to force the Police to release a suspect already in detention over the alleged assault on a rider.
The Police declined their request and assured them that justice will prevail over the assault on their member.
They became angry, reportedly attacked the Police officers inside the Station and injured many of them in the process.
However, the Police mobilized and succeeded in repelling their attack and saved the station from being burnt down but by then many officers had suffered several degrees of injury.
Some of the officers attacked were Supol Kasali Detokunbo, Inspector Sunday Isikhuemehin, Inspector Hopa Obadeki, who were stabbed with knives including others who suffered various injuries during the mayhem.
The Police were able to arrest one of the suspects, Mohammed Abubakar, believed to be the leader of the group and detained him before they were repelled and dispersed.
It was gathered that a passenger boarded Okada at NNPC and gave money to the rider, who had no change to balance the passenger. They had a disagreement which led to fighting and the rider was injured in the process.
However, Police operatives, who were on patrol arrested the passenger and detained him for assaulting the rider, who then contacted other members and told them what happened.
The operators then mobilized themselves and stormed the Police Station demanding the release of the suspect to them for mob action for assaulting their colleague but the Police declined. Hence the attack on the officers.
The suspect, Abubakar was later charged before Ejigbo Magistrates Court for conspiracy and occasional harm on the officers at the Station.
He pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor Supol Kenneth Asibor, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. T.O Shomade, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail conditions. The matter was adjourned till 18th November, 2019.