Why Okada riders went on rampage in Ikeja
Commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as “Okada” riders in the early hours on Wednesday, went on a rampage at Ikeja Along axis of Lagos Abeokuta-Expressway, by barricading the road with a bonfire. An eyewitness said the okada riders, at about 7 am, took to the road to protest over arrest and impoundment of their motorcycles by men of the Lagos Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences Unit in what they called “clampdown” on activities. This came barely 24 hours when a similar incident happened at Mile 2 area of the state in which several vehicles and properties destroyed. The arms wielding okada riders in their large numbers were seen on the expressway setting bonfire, thereby leading to traffic gridlock as motorists were turned back. Also, all drivers of Bus Rapid Transit along the axis had to detour to avoid been caught in the web of the chaos. At press time, police traffic wardens and men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, who were earlier in the axis have been chased away by the rampaging okada riders. The area has been turned into another war zone as men of Lagos taskforce and the okada riders engage on a violent clash with taskforce officials shooting sporadically into the air to disperse the protesters from the highway. Therefore, motorists have been advised to avoid the troubled area and make use of alternative routes to their destinations.
source: https://www.vanguardngr.com