The Lagos State Task Force on Environment and Special Unit has arrested 29 cyclists and impounded 163 motorcycles at Mile 2, Festac and Oshodi-Apapa areas of the metropolis, for flouting traffic rules. Before the police made these arrests, some soldiers and street urchins were alleged to have ambushed the taskforce officials and snatched some motorcycles from them. This action infuriated the taskforce Chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, who ordered a clampdown and enforcement of the traffic law on cyclists operating along prohibited roads.
Confirming the ambush, Egbeyemi said: “a police station along the Apapa Expressway requested for the Agency’s truck to convey 20 impounded motorcycles by their officers to the Taskforce 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 hoodlums to remove four out of these 20 impounded motorcycles.
Taskforce officials, on Friday, stormed 2nd Rainbow along Mile 2 area, including Festac and impounded163 motorcycles. We also arrested 20 cyclists.” Egbeyemi explained that there had been increase in the crime rate in the areas mentioned, stressing that the agency had been inundated with series of complaints from members of the public on criminal activities, allegedly perpetuated with the use of motorcycles.
He advised members of the public to desist from patronising commercial motorcycle operators on restricted routes, warning that anyone arrested will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Comments