For one week, Lagos authorities mounted an aggressive clampdown on commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada.
By the end of the operation, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) had seized 668 motorcycles.
On Sunday, the unit’s chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, announced the development through its spokesperson, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan.
He explained that the task force carried out the week-long exercise to enforce the state’s restrictions on okadaoperations.
Hotspots Targeted
To intensify the crackdown, officials focused on several hotspots: Ishaga, Balogun Bus Stop along Iju-Ishaga Road, Ijegun Roundabout, Iyana-Iba, Iyana-Ishasi, Igbo-Elerin, and Iyana-School.
They also extended the operation to Volkswagen Bus Stop on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Kola Bus Stop on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, and adjoining restricted routes.
Akerele pointed out why the unit zeroed in on those locations.
According to him, residents had lodged repeated complaints about hoodlums, pickpockets, and suspected criminals who exploited okada to launch late-night robberies.
“We cannot ignore such threats,” he stressed.
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Resistance And Warning
As the enforcement intensified, resistance flared.
At Kola Bus Stop, hoodlums and motorcyclists launched a mob attack to stop the operation.
In response, task force operatives dispersed them with minimal force, arrested seven suspects, and restored order to the area without recording any injuries.
With that incident behind them, the officials continued the mission undeterred.
Akerele emphasised that the seizures formed part of a broader clean-up strategy aimed at reducing crime and restoring safety across Lagos.
“Stubborn okada riders must either obey the law or face the full consequences,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the government has already mapped out the fate of the confiscated motorcycles.
Through the courts, it will secure their forfeiture and crush them in line with existing state laws.
Looking ahead, Akerele reaffirmed the agency’s stance.
He said the task force would keep securing highways, protecting residents, and ensuring that Lagos moves closer to becoming a safer city for all.
