The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, Superintendent Olayinka Egbeyemi, has disclosed that no fewer than 72 motorcycle riders have been arrested for plying the 475 restricted routes across the state.
Egbeyemi, who disclosed this to our correspondent against the backdrop of the criminal activities allegedly being perpetrated by commercial motorcycle operators in Oshodi, Mile 2 and Festac, said the arrested operators would be charged to court.
The Task Force chairman said the arrest became necessary following complaints by residents about the criminal activities of the
operators.
He added that about 169 motorcycles had been
impounded.
Egbeyemi said, “We have been receiving a lot of complaints from residents that activities of these motorcycle riders/operators were on the increase as they terrorised innocent members of the public, both day and night, dispossessing them of their valuables such as phone, jewelleries and bags; our investigations confirmed it.
“Our investigations further revealed that these motorcycle riders /operators around these areas were responsible for series of attacks on vehicle owners/drivers whenever there is traffic jam at night around Mile 2 bridge, towards
Festac.”
While calling on the residents to be wary of the criminal activities of the operators, Egbeyemi, who noted that there was a traffic law in the state that prohibits commercial motorcycle operators on some routes, enjoined private powerbike (200cc above) owners/operators, particularly corporate bodies, to warn their dispatch riders to stop engaging in illegal commercial
activities.
He warned that anyone caught violating any section of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 would be prosecuted.
A resident, who simply identified himself as Engr. Damilola Okanlawon, told our correspondent, “Majority of these motorcycle riders plying restricted routes, could hardly speak and do not even understand simple English.”
He added that many of them were from neighbouring countries, but migrated to Lagos without any legitimate means of livelihood other than using motorcycles to commit crime.
