Motorcycle riders in Lagos, aka Okada men, burnt a police patrol van in Ikorordu today in revenge for a colleague who died while evading police officers.
A statement released by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Chike Oti stated that the police patrol van was burnt at a spot in Ibeshe, Ipakodo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state, by irate motorcyclists at about 10:45am.
The okada riders carried out the attack following the death of one of their colleague. The colleague in question was conveying a passenger on his bike at about 10pm when he was stopped by police at a police pin down point. The police noticed his passenger had a bag so they flagged them down, but rather than obey, the okada man sped off and fell into a ditch. He died on the spot while his passenger escaped.
On Wednesday, May 30, 2018, other okada riders came together in their numbers and tried to burn the Ibeshe Police Post but met resistance from police officers so they burnt a police patrol van instead.
The Lagos state police have now warned that henceforth the Command will be forced to use all lawful means including the use of firearms to protect its properties and defend its personnel.
Below is the full statement from the Lagos State Police Command.
ATTACKS ON THE POLICE /PROPERTY FOR WHATEVER REASON(s) WILL NO LONGER BE TOLERATED.
The Lagos State Police Command notes with regret the unfortunate burning of a police patrol van stationed at a black spot in Ibeshe, Ipakodo area of Ikorodu, Lagos state by irate motorcyclists popularly called okada riders, today, 30/05/2018, at about 10.45am..
The incident was occasioned by an encounter between policemen manning the black spot and an okada man plying the routes way beyond Lagos state approved time of 10pm.
As he approached the police pin down point, the police team observed that he was carrying a passenger with a big bag placed between him and the rider an so they flagged him down but instead of obeying the police hand signal, the okada man increased his speed in order to evade police scrutiny. Sadly, he ended up in a ditch and passed on. Meanwhile his associate with the suspicious bag vanished into the thin air.
However, today, 30/05/18, at about 10am, Okada riders sympathetic to their late colleague, mobilised in their thousands and attempted to burn the Ibeshe Police Post. They were resisted. So they moved and found a softer target which was a police van stationed at a known black spot in Ibeshe and set it ablaze.
In view of this incident, the police authorities in Lagos state wishes to warn all those with the penchant to burn, destroy or loot its property/armoury, that henceforth the Command will be compelled to use all lawful means including the use of firearms to protect such properties and defend its petsonnel.The police in Lagos will no longer standby and watch hoodlums destroy government property worth millions of Naira for whatever reason.
Any group of persons with complaints against the police action, must toe the civilised option of registering their complaints with the police authorities for appropriate action.The CP Lagos has directed that the sixty three okada riders arrested for burning the police vehicle should charged to court for arson. He has also directed the OC Legal to file a motion to a court of competent jurisdiction to surcharge the suspects for the purchase of another police patrol vehicle.
SP Chike Oti
Police Public Relations Officer,
Lagos State.