The Lagos State Police have identified suspected motorcycle riders, commonly known as Okada riders, believed to be the culprits behind the recent attack on a BRT bus in the Orile area. This incident occurred on Wednesday and has been linked to the recent enforcement against illegal motorcycling in the city.
According to the police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the attack was not a case of armed robbery. Instead, it was a retaliatory act by the motorcyclists whose bikes had been seized by the Lagos State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Enforcement Unit. The seizure was part of a broader effort to enforce the Lagos State Road Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, which restricts motorcycles from operating on major highways and BRT lanes.
Hundeyin explained that after the raid, which resulted in the impoundment of 164 motorcycles, some of the affected riders organized a protest. They targeted the nearest BRT bus, forcing the driver to stop and subsequently vandalizing the vehicle. There have been unverified reports of passenger robbery, but no official complaints have been filed with the police.
This attack underscores ongoing tensions between law enforcement and commercial motorcyclists in Lagos. The recent enforcement actions are part of a larger strategy to regulate motorcycle use in the city and reduce traffic congestion and accidents.
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