The state police have reassured residents of safety ahead of the June 1 enforcement of a ban on commercial motorcycle (okada) operations in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Lagos State, following speculation that the riders threatened violence.
This was stated by State Police Spokesman SP Benjamin Hundeyin in a statement.
Following the threat of commercial disruption, Abiodun Alabi, the State Commissioner of Police, “deployed human, material, and operational resources to prevent any breakdown of law and order.”
Hundeyin also stated that a carefully crafted security architecture has been implemented as a result of the state’s detailed crime mapping.
“In addition, all Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, and tactical commanders have been placed on red alert in case of an emergency,” the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the police have urged everyone to go about their legal business without fear of being harassed or intimidated.
On Tuesday, the police began a Show of Force. The convoy moved from the Police Headquarters in Ikeja to various parts of the state to reassure the public that the ban announced by will be strictly enforced.
“There is no need for concern about the ban’s enforcement, which has been lauded by the majority of Lagosians as a reinforcement of the Lagos Traffic Law 2012.” (amended in 2018).
The government wishes to advise all law-abiding citizens to go about their daily lives without fear, as measures have been put in place to prevent any disruption. The state government urged Lagosians and visitors to “cooperate with law enforcement agencies in our collective interest.”