Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Lagos State Police Command has revealed that commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as Okada riders, whose motorcycles were seized, are suspected to be behind the attack on a BRT bus in Suru Alaba area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, made this disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, on Friday.
Hundeyin clarified that the incident was not a case of armed robbery, but a reaction by the suspected motorcyclists to the seizure of their motorcycles.
He explained that the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit had conducted a raid on commercial motorcyclists operating on BRT lanes and other prohibited roads, resulting in the seizure of some motorcycles.
Hundeyin alleged that some of the motorcyclists, who resisted the police during the raid due to their positions, were arrested.
“Some of these motorcyclists became angry and mobilised themselves to protest. The nearest Lagos State Government facility they encountered was the approaching BRT bus.
“They forced the driver to stop and attacked the bus. The driver, not feeling confident enough to drive through them, stopped and fled the bus, allowing the riders to vandalise the windows of the BRT.
“While there are claims that some passengers were robbed, no one has come forward to report this to the police,” he said.
The Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit had on Tuesday impounded 164 motorcycles on the state’s highways.
According to the taskforce, the motorcycles were in violation of the Lagos State Road Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which prohibits motorcyclists from using all highways in the state.
