TheCable

The Lagos state government has crushed 482 motorcycles that were seized for “breaking traffic laws and plying restricted roads”.

According to a statement by Adekunle Ajisebutu, the Lagos police spokesperson, the motorcycles were crushed on Saturday at the Alausa secretariat, Ikeja.

In January, the state government had banned the operations of commercial motorcycles — popularly known as okada — and tricycles in 15 local councils.

Speaking at the site of the crushing, Hakeem Odumosu, the state commissioner of police, said the exercise has been going on since the enforcement of the restriction started.

He, however, said the exercise was carried out publicly on Saturday to convince members of the public that the impounded motorcycles are actually being crushed, contrary to insinuations that they are being sold and recycled.

“The commissioner of police, therefore, wishes to further warn erring motorcycle operators plying restricted areas and those violating other traffic laws or using motorcycles for criminal activities in the state to have a change of mind or face the legal consequences,” the statement reads.

“The police boss assures [residents] that the crushing exercise will be a continuous one to discourage people from trampling upon the law, and reiterate determination of the Police Command to enforce the law.”

Earlier this month, the Lagos state environmental and special offences (enforcement) unit taskforce had said 204 commercial motorcycles were impounded at Ojodu Berger, Ketu Alapere, Agric, and Ikeja areas for plying restricted roads and violating the state’s traffic laws.