Most okada riders are criminals, says Lagos CP – Newstrends
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Most okada riders are criminals, says Lagos CP

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Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi

Twenty-four hours after Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced “a total ban” of commercial motorcycles in six councils and nine development areas of the state, Commissioner of Police Abiodun Alabi warned that violators of the ban will be prosecuted in mobile courts.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, yesterday, Alabi said there were plans create mobile courts to prosecute violators of the directive, including passengers.

Alabi said the police have come up with “strategies and tactics” to enforce the directive.

“There is a plan for a kind of mobile court, where offenders can be tried. Wherever you are arrested whether you’re the rider or the passenger, you will be charged expressly,” he said.

“Over time, people have been enforcing it but they didn’t do it in a holistic manner. We are going to look into the intensity of the enforcement and also change our strategies and tactics. We will ensure that this law is enforced to the letter.”

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Speaking on the implication of the ban on crime rate, Alabi conceded that it may cause a spike in criminality, but he said the police are prepared to tackle any security challenge.

“We are anticipating a spike in crime. We know that banning Okada will increase the crime rate in the state, and we are not unmindful of that. We are already putting in place strategies to contend with them. We are prepared for that,” he said.

“The police have the capacity. And it’s not going to be the police alone that will handle this; there is going to be inter-agency collaboration. We are going to work in synergy to enforce this directive to the letter.

“Most of the Okada riders are criminals. We have arrested a lot of them with locally-made pistols in the course of their operations. And most of them have been charged to court.

“Most of them are using Okada as a kind of disguise and that’s why we have been having discussions with their unions. The best way out is to flush them out of our society. Most of them are masquerading as criminals.”

Alabi said couriers, owners of power-bikes and private citizens who own motorcycles are not affected by the ban.

“The blanket ban does not affect couriers that are not carrying passengers. And we will ensure that they are actually couriers and not people pretending to use it to work against the law,” he said.

“And people who are private owners and are in uniform are exempted. People who own power bikes are not affected because it’s not meant for commercial purposes.”

Protesting motorcyclists blocked the Alaba Rago area of Badagry Expressway following police clampdown on errant operators.

THE NATION

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119 inmates escape Suleja prison after stormy rain

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April 25, 2024

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119 inmates escape Suleja prison after stormy rain

No fewer than 119 inmates yesterday escaped from the the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, following the heavy downpour that destroyed the facility.

According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Command, Adamu Duza, at least 10 of the escapees have been recaptured and taken into custody following the the immediate activation of recapturing mechanism in collaboration with sister security agencies.

“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on yesterday night has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of one hundred and eighteen (119) inmates of the facility.

“The Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest.”

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Dazu said that the heavy rainfall that wreaked havoc on the custodial facility which was constructed during the colonial era, lasted over several hours, forcing it to give way for the inmates to escape.

“The Service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era, and that they are old and weak.

“The Service is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern ones. This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six (6) number of 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all the geo-political zones in Nigeria as well as the ongoing reconstruction and renovation of existing ones.

“The Service wishes to assure the public that it is on top of the situation and that they should go about their businesses without fear or hindrance. The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency.” The statement reads in parts

119 inmates escape Suleja prison after stormy rain

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No robbery incident in Abuja, police reacting to viral video

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April 25, 2024

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FCT Police Command Spokesperson, SP Adeh Josephine

No robbery incident in Abuja, police reacting to viral video

The FCT police command has said the video clip circulating online depicting a robbery incident, which purportedly occurred in Abuja, involving a “Right Hand Drive” vehicle, “did not take place within the territory”.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night by the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said that upon analysis of the viral video, it was evidently clear that the robbery incident did not even occur in Nigeria.

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According to her, the conclusion was drawn from the vehicle registration number plate design and the steering position of the vehicle, which is Right Hand Drive, RHD.

“It is important to note that Nigeria does not allow RHD vehicles on its roads, neither are the roads fashioned to accommodate such cars as seen in the video.

“The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Benneth Igweh, psc, mni, urges those circulating the video to desist from such actions as it may cause apprehension and unwarranted panic among the populace”, the statement added.

No robbery incident in Abuja, police reacting to viral video

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Sokoto governor axes 15 district heads over insecurity, others

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April 24, 2024

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Sokoto governor axes 15 district heads over insecurity, others

Sokoto State Government has sacked nine district heads for allegedly aiding insecurity and encouraging land racketeering.

The state government also sacked another six district heads said to have been irregularly appointed by the immediate past government of the state.

Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, announced this while briefing newsmen on the development on Tuesday.

Those axed over alleged insecurity are the district heads of Unguwar Lalle, Yabo, Wamakko, Tulluwa, llela, Dogon Daji, Kebbe, Alkammu and Giyawa.

Bawa said the six district heads were dropped because of the way they were haphazardly appointed and their rejection by their people.

The affected six district heads are Marafan Tangaza, Sarkin Gabas Kalambaina, Bunun Gongono, Sarkin Kudun Yar Tsakkuwa, Sarkin Tambuwal and Sarkin Yamman Torankavwa.

“The cases involving District Heads of Isa, Kuchi, Kilgori and Gagi have been re commended for further investigations,” Bawa added.

However, Sarkin Yakin Binji, senior counselor in the Suktanate Council, was transferred to Nabunkari while the District Head of Sabon Birni was deployed to Gatawa.

Bawa said this followed the recommendations of the Committee on the Review of the appointments of Traditional rulers, Renaming of Tertiary Institutions and the Dissolution of Governing Boards of State Parastatals.

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