Okada riders, police clash in Lagos over traffic laws

BY EVELYN USMAN

Protest by commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as Okada riders, over the new Lagos State Traffic Laws, turned violent, Wednesday, in Majidun area of Ikorodu, as they clashed with a team of policemen.

The Okada riders numbering over 300, reportedly took to the street at about 8am, wielding dangerous weapons. In the process, they reportedly attacked a Lagos State Bus, LAGBUS, and also set bonfire on the road.

Passengers were forced to trek long distances before boarding buses to their respective destinations.

An eyewitness said on sighting a team of policemen approaching, the commercial motorcyclists began to hurl stones at them while fleeing in different directions.

In the process, one of them reportedly abandoned his bike and jumped into a lagoon, apparently to avoid being made a scapegoat.

Aside the protest over the new traffic laws, which bars commercial motorcyclists from plying 475 of the state’s over 9,000 roads, Vanguard gathered that another reason for yesterday’s protest was not unconnected with the seizure of several motorbikes by some policemen during Tuesday’s protest.

Effort to reach the command’s spokes person, Ngozi Braide proved abortive.