Outrage As Lagos Police Arrest Bike Passenger For Plying ‘Restricted Area’

Eko Hot Blog reports that a bike passenger was on Friday arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for plying a “restricted area” in the state.

Recall that in May 2022, the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced a ban on commercial motorcycle operations in six LGAs.

In August 2022, the Lagos government extended the ban to affect four additional LGAs and six LCDAs in the state.

The affected LGAs are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Apapa, Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, and Mushin.

On Friday, an X user, @BigBadReni, said she was being detained at the Orile police station, Iganmu, Lagos, for being a passenger on a bike.

“For clarity; I was picked up at Orile Iganmu and detained at Orile station for being a passenger on a motorbike,” she wrote.

She accused the police of locking her up in a cell with eight men.

“I am not okay. They locked me in a cell with eight men, I’m scared and confused,” Reni said.

However, the Lagos Police Command spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, rejected her claim, saying she was not put in a cell.

He further debunked Reni’s claim that she was locked up with men, saying the police do not detain men and women together.

“That is not true. You did not even step into a cell. You have been behind the counter with other people for processing, before you go into the cell, if you get to that stage,” Hundeyin said.

“We do not detain men and women together. No, we don’t!”

The police spokesperson said she was arrested for breaking the law that bans the operation of commercial motorcycles in the area where she was caught.

Reni’s arrest with the law, which punishes passengers, promptly generated outrage on X, with many describing it as bizarre.

Meanwhile, the police have released the bike passenger who disclosed that she had returned home.

“Home now and beyond grateful to the people who pulled up and made things happen for me,” she wrote.

“I’m especially grateful to the lawyers that came to help out or sent somebody, I can’t tag everybody as I’m still shaken, but I genuinely appreciate it.”

In August 2022, the Lagos government said it had the backing of the law to implement the ban and arrest passengers and riders who violated the law.

Then-Commissioner for Transport, Frederic Oladeinde, said violators, including passengers, risked three years in jail.

“Anybody caught riding Okada both passengers and riders will be sent to jail for three years. The law backs it and we are very serious about it,” Oladeinde said.

“The government is serious and it will implement this and we, the enforcement agencies, backing the government to ensure we implement this ban in 10 LGAs and their respective LCDAs.”

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