27 okada riders from Nigeria arrested for taking illegal routes to enter Ghana

TRACKING___Twenty seven commercial motorcycle riders popularly known as okada riders who left Nigeria and took illegal routes to Ghana were on Friday, April 3, arrested and paraded by the Ghanaian policemen.

The okada riders were said to have decided to leave Lagos State following the ban on okada riding in the state and the current lockdown imposed by the Federal Government and Lagos State government.

According to Ghanaweb, a Ghanaian online news agency, the men were arrested at the border town of Ketu South after they had entered the country through the illegal routes.

When questioned, the men said they were okada riders in Nigeria but due to their inability to do their job, they decided to move to Ghana to ply their trade as they were on their way to Aflao in the Volta region to do okada business.

Head of the police in Ketu South, Elliot Agbenorwu, says the 27 men are currently being questioned and after all necessary interrogations are done, they will be sent back to Nigeria.

The Ghana Immigration Service recently disclosed that some Ghanaians are helping foreigners to enter the country through illegal routes.

“We have noted especially at the Afloa border stretch various attempts by individuals both foreigners and Ghanaians to enter illegally. They have been intercepted by the border patrol…” Deputy Comptroller of Immigration (DCGI) in-charge of Command Post and Operations, Mr Laud Kwesi Affrifah, said.