The Police Command in Ogun State has alerted residents on activities of criminals allegedly wearing ‘unauthorised’ motorcycle helmets and posing as commercial motorcyclists, known as okada riders, to rob passengers.
The command said the hoodlums usually wrap bandanas around their faces, leaving only their eyes visible, while wearing the tinted helmets as a disguise.
Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, said the command had arrested nine suspects in connection with the trend.
“It has become increasingly common for these criminals to wrap bandanas around their faces, leaving only their eyes visible, while wearing the unauthorised helmets as a disguise.
“This method allows them to conceal their identities and carry out their illegal activities,” Odutola said.
She said the command arrested nine riders who were found to be using these “illegal methods to conceal their identities.”
“As a response to this growing trend, the police have successfully arrested nine riders who were found to be using these illegal methods to conceal their identities.
“These suspects are currently undergoing interrogation at the Ijebu Ode Police Station. Among them are Joseph Itodo, Johnson Joseph, Ugwu Samson, Osinowo Seyi, and five others who were unable to provide a reasonable explanation for wearing unauthorised helmets and masking their faces with bandanas,” the police spokesperson said.
Odutola urged passengers “to exercise caution by conducting identity checks on motorcycle riders before getting on board. This precaution is essential to avoid potential kidnap and robberies targeting unsuspecting victims. Passengers must be vigilant, especially when dealing with fully masked riders.”
She also pledged that the “police will continue to provide updates and disseminate information to the public regarding this new trend while we seek to unravel the extent of this issue and further crack down on those involved in such criminal activities.”
