Lagos task-force impounds over 180 motorcycles, arrest 29 offenders
The Lagos State Task Force has impounded over 180 motorcycles plying unauthorised routes in the state and 29 offenders arrested.
The taskforce Chairman, Mr. Olayinka Egbeyemi, who disclosed this through a press statement issued on Sunday, reiterated his commitment to the enforcement of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012 on motorcycle operators plying restricted routes across the State.
Speaking on the impounded motorcycles, he said that the Agency had on Friday, October 27, 2017 invaded 2nd Rainbow along Mile 2 area and Festac impounding 163 motorcycles with 29 riders arrested.
SP Egbeyemi disclosed that there had been series of complaints from members of the public on the criminal activities perpetuated by some of the motorcycle operators.
He said “Residents had complained of snatching of bags, phones, wallets and jewelleries around these areas at night.”
The Chairman however disclosed that Commissioner of Police Acting CP Edgal Imohimi had directed that the 29 arrested motorcycle operators be immediately charged to court for prosecutions.
Reacting to an incident around Mile 2 area on Thursday, October 26th, 2017 where a sister agency (name withheld) aided miscreants to attack and remove 4 out of 20 impounded motorcycles from the Agency’s truck while conveying them from Apapa to Taskforce Crush Yard, he said, ” A Police Station along the Apapa expressway requested for the Agency’s truck to convey 20 impounded motorcycles by their officers to Task Force Crush Yard.
” While the truck was conveying these 20 impounded motorcycles a sister Agency blocked the road with their vehicles around Mile 2 area and allowed miscreants and hoodlums to removed 4 out of these 20 impounded motorcycles.
“There must be a synergy between all security agencies of government in order to collectively fight the menace of these motorcycle operators on all restricted routes across the State,” he advised.
He admonished members of the public to desists from patronising commercial motorcycle operators on restricted routes as anyone arrested will be prosecuted in accordance with the Law.
He also stated that the Police Divisions across the state had been collaborating with the Agency by impounding motorcycles operators plying restricted routes around their respective area.
Applauding the Agency’s efforts towards eradicating the activities of commercial motorcyclist on restricted routes, a concerned citizen, Alhaji Lukumon Lateef, commended the Agency for responding promptly to their complaints.
He said “People living around 2nd Rainbow area and Mile 2 Estate towards Festac could no longer sleep with their eyes closed due to criminal activities perpetuated by some of these motorcycle operators.”
Alhaji Lateef revealed that most of the commercial motorcycle operators were illegal immigrants from neighbouring West African Countries who could not communicate in English.
Joy Anyim
