TheCable

An okada operator, on Tuesday, was confirmed dead following a clash between commercial motorcyclists and police officers in Abule-Egba area of Lagos state.

Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesman, who confirmed the development, said the okada operators attacked officers who were deployed to the area following some disturbance.

According to him, an okada operator was involved in an accident with a vehicle around 4.30pm on Tuesday.

However, the okada riders were said to have attempted to cause trouble, which led to the clash.

“After a minor accident involving a car and a motorcycle occurred on the Abule-Egba Bridge at about 1630hrs today, motorcycle riders in their numbers started fomenting trouble,” Hundeyin said.

“Police arrived on the scene to quell the unrest. The riders violently attacked the Police.

“We are fully aware of the disturbances in Oko-Oba area of Lagos State. This resulted in the death of one of the riders.

“Normalcy has been restored to the area. The Police in Oko-Oba are fully on ground to forestall any breakdown of law and order.”

The development comes amid a ban on okada operations in six LGAs in the state — Eti-Osa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Apapa and Surulere.

However, Abule-Egba where the Tuesday incident occurred is in Alimosho LGA, which is not covered by the ban.

Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos commissioner for information, had, on Tuesday, also said stakeholders have asked that the ban be extended to all LGAs.

He added that the state would review the current situation and consider whether a total ban would be put in place.