Despite the restriction placed on commercial motorcycle operators also known as okada riders in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, robbers using motorcycles have continued to terrorise Mushin residents in the state.
According to residents who spoke to P.M.NEWS, hardly a day passes without reports of robbers operating in the area with Okada.
The worst hit are those who wake up early to go to work and end up telling sad tales of how they were robbed by robbers riding okada. On Monday morning, four residents were attacked by okada robbers who brandished their weapons without any fear of the security agencies in the area.
P.M.NEWS investigation revealed that Okada robbers operate in most parts of Mushin and the police seem to be helpless. The areas include Fatai Atere Way, Ojekunle, Palm Avenue, Isolo Road and Wey, Owo and Bamgboye street, Fadeyi, Idioro, Olosa and Ilasa.
Some of the victims who spoke to P.M.NEWS noted that though Mushin had been known for violence, but the situation has worsened recently because of the attacks by okada robbers. Mrs. Lucia Ikeh who lost her personal effects to robbers said she went to visit her brother at Isolo Road but on her way back at Ojukunle street, an Okada rider blocked her and the man at the back brought out a gun and pointed it at her and she surrendered all her belongings to them.
Another victim, Matthew Obino, a trader at Daleko Market said that he lost N300,000 to Okada robbers who stopped him at gun point and demanded the bag containing the money.
He wondered why the police could not bring to book robbers who operate on Okada.
The Lagos State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ngozi Braide, in a release noted that the police are doing their best in combating crime in the area and Lagos State in general.
She said that the police patrol team attached to Alakara Division recently arrested a suspect, Mutiu Onifade with a stolen Nissan car with registration number, AGL 834 AW at Olosan area.
She explained that the suspect with another one at large robbed the owner of the car at Akoka and were headed to Mushin before Onifade was arrested. The residents have taken their destiny in their hands to curb the activities of the robbers.
Last Saturday, an Okada robber operating with a motorcycle with registration number QA 720 AAA was about to be lynched when police intervened and rescued the suspect at Owo street. “This is just the beginning of the year and Mushin is like this. If the situation is not controlled, the residents should expect more troubles,” a resident said.
Source: PM News