EDITOR’S PICK
EKO HOT BLOG reports that there is panic in the Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos over an attempt by policemen to enforce the state government ban on the operation of commercial motorcycle operators also known as Okada riders.
The violent clash erupted between riders of commercial motorcycles, also known as Okada and security personnel at Iyana-Iba, towards Ojo Cantonment in Lagos State.
It was gathered that the Okada riders (mostly Northerners) blocked roads on Thursday, protesting the ban placed on them by the Lagos State Government.
The riders set fire in the middle of the road, while the owners of vehicles abandoned them by the side of the road due to the chaos.
The crisis led to a stampede as pedestrians fled for fear of being caught up in the crossfire.
Moreso, the incident created heavy vehicular movement on both sides of the road.
While the policemen fired several shots into the air to disperse the commercial motorcycle operators, the riders themselves pelted the officers with stones, daring the policemen to come after them.
A yet to be ascertained number of persons sustained different wounds as they tried to run away from the trouble zone.
Presently, a combined team of anti-riot policemen and some soldiers have been deployed to return normalcy to the area.
Recall the Lagos government on Wednesday banned Okada from operating in six Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the sanction during a meeting with police chiefs in the state, saying it is “total and indefinite”.
The affected local councils are Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa.
Already, the Oniru chieftaincy family estate office warned that there are plans by Okada riders to invade inner streets in some areas in Lagos to cause havoc.
FURTHER READING
That seems to have been playing out – going by the situation report from Iyana Iba today.
Watch the video here.
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