Bauchi lawmakers want ban on commercial motorcycles lifted

Bauchi State House of Assembly has adopted a motion, calling on the state government to lift the ban on commercial motorcycles, popularly known as ‘Okada’ in the state.

It said the move will help to curtail the rising cases of criminal activities by suspected members of ‘Sara-Suka group’ across the state.

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The Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman, disclosed this on Wednesday shortly after plenary.

The lawmaker, who moved the motion, Hon. Tijjani Muhammad Aliyu, said the motion sought to alert the House, the state government as well as security agencies on the emergence of Sara-Suka in Azare town.

He linked the rise in criminal activities to poverty, stressing that a lot of youths have lost their job due to the ban on okada operation in the state.

“There is fear that the youth, who lost their jobs to the ‘Okada ban,’ may engage in thuggery and other nefarious activities.

“The teaming unemployed youth hanging out everywhere is so scary because an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.

“The government should provide other job opportunities for them.

“I also call on the government to take decisive action against the emerging security threat in the area,” he said.

He explained that the suspected criminals are known and are traceable, calling on the government to direct security agencies to take necessary action.

He also called on the people of Azare town to form community-based security committees to complement the government’s effort in fighting the criminal activities in their communities.

On his part, the Speaker, Abubakar Y Suleiman, said that the motion indicated an urgent need for all concerned authorities to take decisive action to stop the escalation of the activities of the ‘Sara-suka group’ which was hitherto known in Bauchi Metropolis.

Bauchi State Government had, in April, banned the operations of okada riders as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the state.