Residents Bar Commercial Motorcyclists From Asaba Airport View Estate

Following the alleged high rate of criminal activities in Asaba Airport View Estate, located along Okpanam/Asaba road, Okpanam, the residents of the estate have decided that henceforth, they would no longer allow commercial motorcyclists (Okada) to ply the roads within the estate, stressing that any motorcycle that contravenes the rule shall be impounded by the estate security officers and offenders prosecuted.

Making the disclosure Tuesday during the inaugural meeting of the newly elected executives committee of Asaba Airport View Residents’ Association, the chairman, Chief (Engr.) Joseph Chukwudi Obi stated that within the past few years, the residents have faced series of cases of armed robbery, house breaking and entry, rape, impersonation by those who unlawfully enters into the estate under the pretext that they are BEDC officials, thus embarking on illegal connection of electricity, as well as vandalization of electrical installations/equipment in the estate.

He alleged that there has been incessant cases of criminality, touting and other undesirable elements seeking development levies, land speculation, creating all sort of problems in the estate, adding that the new management of the estate will no longer tolerate any form of criminality, lamenting that “these unlawful activities usually take place during the odd working hours or on Sundays when most residents have gone to church”.

The chairman seized the opportunity to appeal to the landlords and tenants in the estate to ensure that they pay up their debts, so as to raise enough money for the development of the estate, lamenting that it is regrettable that sometimes, some people would want to go to court first before paying up their outstanding debts.

But in a swift reaction, some of the motorcycle operators who do not want their names in the print described the ban as hatred adding that they might be forced to take legal action that had described them as “criminals”