Okada Ban Records First Casualty as Stray Bullet Hits School Girl

...Police arrest 34, impound 86 motorcycles

The first known casualty of the Lagos State Government ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada and tricycles was a young school girl who was on Wednesday hit by a stray bullet in Aboru, a suburb in Iyana Ipaja area of the state.

The school girl was hit by a bullet as the police clashed with Okada riders who had come out to protest against the ban on six local government areas and the subsequent impounding of 86 motorcycles in the area.

In the ensuing pandemonium, some miscreants hijacked the protest, vandalised cars and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), as well as accosted motorists and pedestrians.

Commercial activities naturally ground to a halt given the violent nature of the protest.

Banks, shops and markets were forced to shut down as the rampaging riders set bonfires as they destroyed whatever was in their path.

When the police reinforcements were deployed to quell the situation, the rioters repelled them, prompting the police to fire into the air, which hit the victim.

Kitted in her mint green shirt and check skirt, the victim was on her way home from school with her classmates when the stray bullet hit her on the stomach.

Although passersby tried to perform first aid on her by contributing clothes and ties to stop the blood from flowing, it all amounted to naught as she was said to have bled to death.

While her parents wailed, angry residents set a van belonging to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) ablaze as the police beat a retreat to avoid being lynched by the enraged mob.

However, some of the protesters told journalists that

the clash started because the police had allegedly gone into various shops where motorcycles and its spare parts were sold in the area, and attempted to impound them.

The dealers, who stressed that the ban does not extend to them, resisted the police from removing the items and in the process led to chaos as miscreants joined in the confrontation that ensued.

The situation which led to commotion, looting of businesses and destruction of property, caused severe traffic jam as motorists were caught in the clash.

Several vehicles were smashed and shops looted by miscreants who seized the opportunity to loot and vandalise property.

Following the violent attack, the policemen called for reinforcements as they were already overwhelmed by the teeming reinforcement.

As reinforcement arrived, they shot canisters of teargas into the air to scare away the miscreants, but they proved a hard but to crack which resulted to one of the policemen shooting into the air to scare the crowd.

One of the riders who spoke to THISDAY anonymously accused the police of seizing the ban to exploit 'Okada' riders and dealers, especially, in the areas not affected by the ban.

He said: “The state government and Commissioner of Police should call the taskforce and other enforcement agents to order as they are using the ban to extort money from innocent riders and dealers in the areas not affected by the ban.

 “The police authorities should create a monitoring squad that will check the excesses of their men while enforcing the ban. This is not fair to us. They want us to take to robbery or criminal acts. Because they have taken away our means of livelihood. Help us beg them.”

Debunking the death of the school girl, the state Police Spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana said the command has arrested 34 persons in connection with the unrest.

He said: “The Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences and some teams of police officers carried out enforcement on restrictions of motorcycles  and tricycles at Aboru area, where 86 motorcycles were impounded.

“The riders of the impounded motorcycles and thugs in large number advanced to Iyana - Ipaja and attacked police officers on duty at Iyana Ipana roundabout, Alaguntan junction and Aboru junction.

“One Inspector Salifu Umar was injured by the hoodlums but no life was lost in the attack. The injured inspector was rushed to hospital and he is responding to treatment.

“One LASTMA vehicle and two Neighbourhood Watch patrol bicycles were burnt by the hoodlums. The windscreen of a police patrol vehicle was also damaged.

“Reinforcement was sent to the affected areas by the command headquarters and the situation was brought under control.

“Thirty-four suspects were arrested in connection with the violent attacks. The Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu has condemned the attack on police officers carrying out their lawful duties and vowed that the perpetrators of such dastardly acts will face the full weight of the law. “