Okada Ban: Protest Rocks Abuja, Police Nabs 20

BY: Mohammed O. Taoheed

The Nigerian Police Force has on Tuesday arrested 20 commercial motorcycles for stepping on the ban of motorcycle popularly known as ‘Okada’ in some places in the the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Following this, a group of riders came out to protest and they reportedly blocked the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from going out of their office and kicked their fists against the faces of the officers.

Having been alerted, the police immediately dispersed the motorcyclists who ran to the street to express their wrath.

According to a statement by DSP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Police Spokesman, he noted: “Following the ban of motorcycles in some parts of the FCT by the FCTA, the FCT Command having held several meetings with the various heads of motorcycle units across the Territory activated an enforcement exercise at the various Divisional and Area command AORs.

“Today 26th July 2022, motorcycles numbering about 20 were arrested by Operatives of the Durumi Divisional Police Headquarters on an Enforcement round for violating the ban. The motorcycles were taken to the Division and subsequently handed over to the VIO for screening. Upon sighting the VIO at the Division, the errant motorcyclist in their number decided to obstruct the VIO from moving out of the station and started attacking the officers.

“The police swung into action, dispersing the violent motorcycles who took to the street to express their displeasure. No life was lost nor properties damaged. normalcy has since been restored. The command urges members of the public not to panic, and to go about their lawful business while monitoring of the area and surveillance continues”.