Tough time awaits Okada riders, others in Kubwa

By Stanley Onyekwere

Tough time awaits motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada riders and their patronisers as the Special Ministerial Task Force on Transportation and other Public Nuisances has vowed to arrest and prosecute anyone caught in the act.
This move was disclosed yesterday by the task team, headed by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, during its two days show of force , aimed at sensitising the Okada riders in the area.
According to the Field Coordinator, Mr Peter Olumuji, who spoke on behalf of the Team, anybody that patronises Okada riders is aiding and abetting their illegal operations, as both are liable, and would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
Olumuji said: “The residents of kubwa have been complaining seriously on the recklessness and return of okada into kubwa. Most of the Okada riders always go about with knives and at any little provocation, they stab the other person involve , they also commit other crimes.
“We are here to ensure that they are removed from Kubwa as it were before the Endsars protest.
They have designated places far away from the city centre were they are allowed to operate, Keke Napep was brought in from town and they have been operating without hitch or constituting nuisances to the community.”
He added that the FCT Administration have decided to start the show of force on the first day of December to sensitized the Okada riders and their patronisers if the need to stay off kubwa.
Similarly, Area Commandant, Nigeria Police, Kubwa, ACP Sani Aliyu Omilori, said before the Endsars protest, Okada riders left Kubwa as directed by the FCTA, but after the protest, they came back in full force.
He said, “that’s why we came out on this show of force for two days to inform them to stay off Kubwa roads as the ban on Okada is still on and by Thursday we start enforcement.
“An alternative means of transportation has been provided for the residents (Keke Napep). We are sensitizing the operators as well the patronizers before the enforcement.”
Not let out, the Zonal Commandant Zone 1, of Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), Mrs. Osho Deborah reiterated that after the two days of show of force, they will embark on full enforcement and any one caught will be arrested and prosecuted.