Tension as police, okada riders battle in Lagos

A police attempt to enforce the state government’s prohibition on commercial motorcycle operators, better known as Okada riders, has created conflict in Lagos’ Ojo Local Government Area.

Following the assassination of a sound engineer, David Imoh, at Lekki, the state government ordered a blanket ban on Okada riders’ operations in six local government areas of the state on Wednesday.

Some commercial motorbikes were confiscated by police from Onireke Police Station in Ojo for operating on the Mile 2 – Badagry expressway, a move that the riders opposed.

The motorcyclists attempted to storm the station, perhaps releasing some of their members who had been detained by police.

Due to the commotion, the riders set fire to the center of the road, while car owners abandoned their vehicles by the side of the road.

As a result of the incident, pedestrians ran in fear of getting trapped in the crossfire.

Furthermore, the event caused heavy traffic on both sides of the road.