THE bid by the Lagos State Government to enforce the restriction of
commercial motorcycles on major highways in the state met stiff
resistance at LASU Gate Bus stop on the ever-busy Lagos/Badagry
Expressway, Ojo on Thursday.
Eyewitnesses told Saturday Vanguard that the combined team of
operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and officers and men of the
Lagos State Task Force on Environment arrived at the busy bus stop from
the Mile 2 direction of the highway in four lorries and six patrol
trucks, at about 8am.
On sighting them, the motorcycle operators sped off in different directions.
The team was said to have impounded some motorcycles.
Eyewitnesses further informed that the team then descended on the motorcycle mechanic workshops around the bus stop, impounding motorcycles brought for repairs as well as those parked in the vicinity. That was when members of the Hausa community at the bus stop who are mainly youngsters and constitute majority of the motorcycle operators were alleged to have resisted by holding onto their motorcycles.
“My okada was parked in our yard when they arrived. But they came in and took it away”, said one of the operators. Giving his name simply as Aliu, he said when he tried to resist, one of the policemen assaulted him with the butt of his gun until he let go. Many others were also said to have resisted by holding onto their motorcycles and fighting back.
Shouting Barawo! Barawo! (Thief! Thief! in Hausa) in anger, the youngsters were said to have responded by hauling stones, bottles and other dangerous missiles at members of the team, who retaliated by shooting tear gas at them.
Lagos State Task-force on duty
On sighting them, the motorcycle operators sped off in different directions.
The team was said to have impounded some motorcycles.
Eyewitnesses further informed that the team then descended on the motorcycle mechanic workshops around the bus stop, impounding motorcycles brought for repairs as well as those parked in the vicinity. That was when members of the Hausa community at the bus stop who are mainly youngsters and constitute majority of the motorcycle operators were alleged to have resisted by holding onto their motorcycles.
“My okada was parked in our yard when they arrived. But they came in and took it away”, said one of the operators. Giving his name simply as Aliu, he said when he tried to resist, one of the policemen assaulted him with the butt of his gun until he let go. Many others were also said to have resisted by holding onto their motorcycles and fighting back.
Shouting Barawo! Barawo! (Thief! Thief! in Hausa) in anger, the youngsters were said to have responded by hauling stones, bottles and other dangerous missiles at members of the team, who retaliated by shooting tear gas at them.
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