Lekki residents ‘declare war’ on Okada riders

24 hours after the Lagos State Government announced a total ban on commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada riders, the Lekki Phase I Residents Association (LERA) restricted commercial motorcycle operators from the area.

There has been a series of reactions after the killing of a Sound Engineer who was beaten to a pulp and set ablaze by suspected Okada riders.

• Tension in Lagos community as police battle Okada riders
• Sanwo-Olu declares total ban on Okada, 115 impounded

Chairman of LERA, Mr. Yomi Idowu, who briefed newsmen, tasked Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to enforce the total ban on Okada.

The Chairman also raised alarm over the presence of hoodlums in some uncompleted buildings, calling on the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the New Towns Development Authority (NTDA) to flush them out.

Idowu described the killing of a sound engineer, David Imoh, in Lekki “as dastardly, animalistic and senseless.”

He said: “Intelligence reports reaching us are that following the raid on Okada riders and subsequent seizure of their bikes in Lekki Phase 1 by officials of Lagos State Taskforce, the riders, who believe the action was instigated by Lekki residents, are planning to attack the residents.”

He noted that residents have continued to face harassment and acts of terrorism by Okada riders.

“This is not the first time residents have been terrorised by motorcycle riders in Lekki Phase I. Indeed, Okada has been an environmental nuisance and many residents have had their fair share of their sheer recklessness. It is an obvious fact that security within Lekki Phase I has deteriorated. It is imperative that we all take a collective stance and formulate joint initiatives to avert a total exposure to imminent security threats to the lives and assets of our residents.

“We in Lekki Phase I cannot risk the lives our people further… We are, therefore, taking proactive measures by banning activities of Okada riders with immediate effect. We choose to live and say no to ‘Okada’ on our roads and streets,” he said.

Member of Board of Trustee, Chief Emeka Nweze, said those who patronise the Okada riders are not homeowners, rather domestic workers and people working on sites.

Nweze called on the state government to ensure those who have undeveloped properties start working on them or have them confiscated.