Lagos Police Confirm Death Of Officer Enforcing ‘Okada’ Ban

The death of a police officer who was enforcing a ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as okada at Cele Bus Stop in Lagos has been confirmed.

Naija News reports the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident on Wednesday.

It was learnt that the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Ben Hundeyin, took to the micro-blogging platform, Twitter to confirm the incident, saying an attack on some policemen of the Isolo division lead to the death of one Police Inspector.

He also disclosed that a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) also sustained serious injury from the incident.

According to Hundeyin, two suspects have been arrested, while 41 motorcycles were impounded.

He said “While enforcing the existing ban on the use of motorcycles in parts of Lagos State, Police Officers of Isolo Division came under attack from motorcycle riders at Cele bus-stop, resulting in the death of one Police Inspector & serious injury to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

“Citizens are urged to remain law-abiding, as riders and passengers alike arrested on prohibited routes will face the law. Above all, any form of attack on Police Officers will no longer be tolerated!”

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government had instituted the okada ban in six local government areas (LGAs) of the state, including Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, and Apapa, with effect from June 1, 2022.

The ban was later extended to four other LGAs of the state including Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Shomolu, and Mushin with effect from September 1, 2022.

The Lagos State Police PRO, therefore, noted that the command would not be deterred from carrying out its mandate of enforcing duly established laws.