The Arewa community in Lagos, Lagos State Arewa Community (LASACOMM) have confirmed it has directed all it’s members to comply with the state’s recent ban on commercial motorcyclists (okada).
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had announced the immediate ban on okadas in some areas of the state. This came after some okada rides lynched a sound engineer identified as David Imoh in Lekki, Lagos. The areas affected by the ban include Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.
In a statement signed by Musa Saleh, LASACOMM’s Secretary General, the group reinstated its commitment to the state’s laws. They also promised to aid the efforts from the government in enforcing the ban.
It read,
“We are law abiding and we will always continue to intimate all our members to continue to be law abiding and operate only within the ambits of the law.
“We support all measures taken by the Lagos State Government in its efforts towards protecting the lives and property of all residents.” the statement continued.
“We condemn in totality the activities of all criminal elements, who are mostly foreigners from Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon and other neighboring countries, who have infiltrated the ranks of those genuine riders and thereby perpetrating all forms of crime in Lagos State and constitute serious threats to the lives and property of residents.
“We are calling on the Security Agencies to identify and arrest all those criminal elements masquerading as Okada riders.”
READ MORE: Sound Engineer , Attacked By Okada Riders In Lagos
“We are also tasking the Nigeria Immigration Service to step up its actions along the border lines in checking the influx of those foreign elements coming into the country without genuine intention.”
“We are in total commitment and support to the administrative policies of the Lagos State Government getting rid of all security threats promoting peace and tranquility, safeguarding lives and properties of Lagos and the massive provision and development of infrastructures facilities for all Lagosians.
“We are calling on all well meaning Arewa community members to comply with our common resolve and avoid the local governments of Apapa, Surulere, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Etiosa and Ikeja.”
