At least 30 motor bikes have been confiscated in the Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos state on Monday, October 27, 2014, by the operatives of the State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences because commercial motorcycles are not allowed to ply the route
Also, about four traders have been arraigned by the officials who in a bid to nip street trading in the bud had pursued roadside traders at the Computer Village , Ikeja and banned them from selling their good.
It was learnt that the bike operators were engaged in a hot chase by the officials and out of fear of being nabbed, they abandoned their bikes and fled.
The task force Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, said residents of the area had been complaining that okada riders were plying prohibited routes and obstructing traffic in the area.
He said, “The task force wanted people to know that it had not relented in its enforcement activities, as being speculated in some quarters. Any motorcyclist arrested, will be charged to court and their bikes forfeited to government.”
Sulaiman also disclosed that their force had raided the Computer Village and banned traders from selling along the street adding that they were bent on fighting tooth and nail to ensure that street trading becomes a thing of the past in the state.
He further disclosed that a visit to the scene in the evening of Monday, October 27, 2014 disclosed that most of the banned traders had resumed their normal activities on the roadside.
He further disclosed that the force was set to charge the arrested traders to court in order to serve as a warning to other defaulters.
He said, “The task force raided the village and arrested four traders while others fled.”
“We will ensure that the Computer Village is cleaned up and we don’t want trading on the streets at the village. We are warning them that if any of them comes to the road again to sell, we will seize their goods.
“A lot of people believe that we have relaxed in enforcement; but we have not. We will ensure that places like Oshodi and Obalende- that have been cleared of street trading and street urchins- are well policed so that the traders and area boys do not come back to turn these places to nuisance.”
