[ news] How Okada riders rob bank customers in Festac – Agbonika

– The Festac police command has begun to enforce the ban on motorcycles in all the streets, connecting roads and bridges in Festac Town and in the Amuwo Odofin area

– The command says it is taking into consideration the safety of passengers on the motorcycles while enforcing the ban

– Appeals to residents to avoid
patronising Okadas as they cannot exist without patronage

The Festac police command has begun a crackdown of motorcyclists others wise known as Okada in pursuant to the Lagos state law of 2012 which prohibits the use of motorcycles for transportation on some major roads in the state.


Okada men waiting for passenger at Second Rainbow area of Festac town Lagos. Photo: Michael Obasa

The divisional police officer (DPO) of the command, chief superintendent of police (CSP), Monday Agbonika during one of the crackdown operations said the command decided to enforce the ban on motorcycles in all the streets, connecting roads and bridges in Festac Town and in the Amuwo Odofin area because motorcycles are often used in carrying out robbery operations.

CSP Agbonika citing his crime mapping chart in his office said statistics have shown that robbery with the use of Okada occurs frequently in Festac Town.

The DPO said the Okada crimes have assumed a pattern where these robbers trail customers from banks to blind spots and rob them of their money at gun point.

The divisional police officer (DPO) of the Festac police command, chief superintendent of police (CSP), Monday Agbonika showing his strategy for tracking down Okada robbers in Festac. Photo: Michael Obasa.

He said investigations by his men had dismissed the suspicion that people working in the banks were colluding with these robbers because customers from different banks have been attacked randomly by the robbers, negating the fears that the robbers had informants in about all the banks in Festac Town and Amuwo Odofin area.


He said to protect customers from these robbers who usually stand guard to monitor customers coming in and out of banks; the command had to instruct banks in Festac to place signs banning Okada riders from parking around banks premises.

The DPO said after the motorcyclists failed to heed the warnings from the police not to come around banking areas, the command decided to enforce the law banning motorcycles in Festac Town.

Impounded Okadas at Festac police station in Lagos Photo: Michael Obasa
CSP Agbonika however, noted that his command was also taking into consideration the safety of passengers on the motorcycles while enforcing the ban.
Narrating a personal experience, he said he once had to order his men to call of the chase of an Okada rider when he realised that the rider was carrying a mother with a young child.

He said the safety of Festac residents was his command’s utmost priority and that his men would always ensure that they do not endanger the lives of residents while enforcing the ban.

The DPO appealed to residents to avoid patronising Okadas as they cannot exist without patronage. He said residents should also note that riders and those that patronise them are also liable under the motorcycle prohibition law........