The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Taskforce on Monday said it has seized over 300 motorcycles for flouting the ban on certain routes.
It said those seized operated in places like Oko-Oba, Local Airport Road and Abeokuta Expressway, which are all banned routes for commercial motorcycles.
A statement by the agency’s Director, Press and Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the agency also raided Jakande and Iyana Ejigbo axis where not less than 120 motorcycles were impounded.
Quoting the Taskforce Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, Abdulraheem said the enforcement would be continuous in order to deter stubborn riders.
“CSP Jejeloye further disclosed that though the level of compliance on Abeokuta Expressway is impressive, the agency still recorded confiscation of 45 bikes along that axis in the past one week while 113 bikes were impounded at Oko-Oba and 29 suspects were arrested.
“Fifteen bikes were also seized at Local Airport Road in Ikeja while 82 bikes were impounded at Apapa-Oshodi Expressway during the week-long raid.
“The level of compliance of the ban on okada activities is very impressive but we still have some rebellious operators who ply in the evenings or sometimes weekends, thinking we are going to be relaxed at those times.
“We have corrected that thought by impounding the bikes and arresting both riders and passengers who will be made to face the court immediately,” he said.
He said an officer was on Monday injured by a knife-wielding butcher when on enforcement duty, noting that was part of the hazards they faced daily.
He said operatives also raided some abandoned buildings at Cameron Road, Lagos,.where reports had been received about the activities of some suspected criminals who use such properties as safe haven.
”Intelligence reports have it that criminal elements in this area make use of these abandoned buildings as a take-off point and resting place before and after their acitivities that is why we have carried out this intense raids to put a stop to it. We have arrested some suspects who will be interrogated and then brought before the Magistrate in court,” Jejeloye said.