A police inspector was killed on Wednesday while enforcing a ban on commercial motorcycles popularly referred to as okada at Cele Bus Stop along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos on Wednesday.
The Lagos State Police Command has also confirmed the arrest of two suspects with 41 motorcycles impounded following the clash that broke out between some of its officers and motorcycle riders at the bus stop.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Lagos state, Ben Hundeyin, made this known in a series of tweets in which he also disclosed that a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) sustained a serious injury.
“While enforcing the existing ban on the use of motorcycles in parts of Lagos State, Police Officers of Isolo Division came under attack from motorcycle riders at Cele bus-stop, resulting in the death of one Police Inspector & serious injury to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
“Two suspects have been arrested while forty-one motorcycles were impounded. The Lagos State Police Command will not be deterred from carrying out its mandate of enforcing duly established laws,” Hundeyin tweeted.
He added that the police command would not hesitate to carry out its mandate of enforcing duly established laws while urging Lagosians to remain law-abiding.
“Citizens are urged to remain law-abiding, as riders and passengers alike arrested on prohibited routes will face the law. Above all, any form of attack on Police Officers will no longer be tolerated!” the police spokesman said.
There was pandemonium on Wednesday when commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders attacked and allegedly killed a police officer at Cele Bus Stop.
The irate motorcyclists also carted away three rifles taken from police operatives.
The Guardian learnt that shortly after the officer was murdered, the Okada operators, numbering about 100, ran towards Mile 2 side of the expressway.
It was said that the riders were brandishing cutlasses, daggers, big sticks and other weapons.
A petty trader at the scene of the incident described the confrontation as revenge.
She alleged that the police had, a few days ago, murdered a commercial motorcyclist around the area and the operators re-enforced to take revenge.
The trader stressed that a policewoman had earlier escaped being lynched before the incident.
According to her, the policemen pursued the motorcyclists to Ijesha Bus Stop before they were overpowered and one of them was killed, while two rifles were taken away during the fracas.
She added that there was calm after security agents fired several tear gas canisters.
