Okada operators worry over fake securitymen

Speaking to Kanem Trust, Secretary of the union, Mukhtar Muhammad Ali, said that in recent times, their members have fallen victims to criminals who pose as plaincloth police officers to steal their motorcycles. “You just see someone without a uniform smartly approaching a commercial motorcycle rider who has just stopped at a restricted area. He would pretend to be a policeman, angrily inquiring why the rider parked at the spot and quickly removes and seizes the keys to take charge of the motorcycle. And most of the okada riders lack the confidence to challenge these criminals who would ride away on the bike and instruct the owner to come to a particular police station to collect his motorcycle. When the owner gets to the police station and reports the case, it would be discovered that no officer of the sort exists in that police station. This is very common around the Monday market area or along Ahmadu Bello way,” he said.

The Borno police command said it was yet to receive any complaints from the okada riders. The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Isa Azare, who stated this however noted that the police would investigate the matter and take appropriate steps.