IG BACKS LAGOS TRAFFIC LAW,ORDERS CRACKDOWN ON OKADA RIDERS

In demonstration of his tacit support for the new Lagos traffic law, the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Abubakar has ordered the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko  and his men to begin massive arrest of okada riders (commercial motorcycle operators) who violate the law.He said the crackdown should begin after one week of grace for the riders to comply.Click on read

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Abubakar gave this order on Monday at the launch of 114 patrol vehicles for Lagos police by Governor Babatunde Fashola in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.He lamented that he was pissed off to see okada riders in Lekki area flagrantly disobeying traffic laws, saying  “and I asked, where are the police?”“Commissioner of police, take note, okada riders are also citizens of the state and they must obey the law. Okada riders should respect the law. Without respecting the law, you cannot drive on that road.”

Abubakar ordered Manko to issue the okada riders one week ultimatum to comply with the laws of the state, saying the CP should meet with the okada unions immediately to intimate them of the new move and that after one week, “I want to see a large number of okada riders arrested and taken to court.”

The police boss also said he was displeased with the robbery incident in Lagos on Sunday, saying that it was clear the Lagos Police Command was slumbering and that the police in Lagos should wake up from their slumber.“I want to sound a note of warning to all officers in the state police command that it is no more a tea party. You are greatly challenged now and you must wake up from your slumber. There is no doubt that some of you are sleeping.

“The story of Sunday should not repeat itself again. We cannot fold our arms and allow criminals to terrorise citizens of this state. It will longer be tolerated anymore. On Sunday, I came in and I knew what happened.“I have directed the AIG and the commissioner of police in Lagos to sit down and strategise. They must put more strategy on ground and methodology of fighting crimes. We cannot fold our arms anymore when the governor has given us everything that we need in terms of mobility, in terms of technology, in terms of support and allow the people of Lagos to be terrorised by common charlatan criminals. It cannot be tolerated anymore,” he stated.