By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Over 1,000 commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okoda, have been impounded in Lagos within the last four month for various traffic offences.

Chairman, Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences unit, Superintendent of Police, Supol Olubukola Abe, who disclosed this, yesterday,  said the seized motorcycles have been sent to crushing plants.

Abe said the decision to crush the bikes was taken to stop them from finding their way back on the roads.

Abe said his men confiscated the highest number of 814 Okada last month

According to him, 146 were seized in June, 278 in July and 484 in August.

Abe noted that the complaints from members of the public in recent times over various crimes being perpetrated by Okada riders further informed the enforcement

The task force boss said on assumption of office he convened a stakeholders’ meeting with the leaders of various Okada and tricycle, popularly called ‘Keke Marwa’ operators on the need to  comply with the state traffic law or face the consequences of the law.

The seized motorcycles, he explained, were taken to Ojota crushing plants where they are being crushed and recycled into metal by-products.

Abe, however, said the activities of his men were being guided and conducted in line with best global practices, adding that in their firmness they were also civil.

On allegation that the agency kept suspects beyond 24 hours as stipulated by the law, Abe explained that one of the reasons for that was proximity to the court.

He also cleared the air on what was done with perishable items seized during operations, saying the Task Force always distributed such to various motherless or welfare homes across the state.