The Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA has restated its ban on the operations of commercial motorcyclists, otherwise known as “Okada” in Kubwa, the city’s largest suburban town.
Recall that FCTA had approved the request of Bwari Area Council two years ago after the council complained that a lot of crimes were being perpetrated with the connivance of Okada riders.
Okada operations were then prohibited in Kubwa and Dutse Communities, and followed by serious mop up by a joint security task force.
The #EndSARS protest and the advent of COVID-19 however led to a reduction in tempo of enforcement, but security agencies had continued to complain about the excesses of operators, saying most unclaimed corpses disposed of by then were victims of the recklessness of Okada riders and mob action traceable to them.
Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Mr Attah Ikharo said the resumed enforcement was a directive from the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello that the illegalities associated with Okada operations be halted immediately.
According to him, commercial motorcyclists are not allowed both in Kubwa and Dutse towns, and those who violate the law would be punished accordingly.
“Okada operation is not allowed in Kubwa and Dutse. With the strong synergy between the FCTA and Bwari Area Council, following their request two years ago, the operation will continue as until sanity is restored.
“The Security Department of the FCTA and the Directorate of Road Traffic Seevices DRTS with the support of the Bwari Area Council has before now cleaned up Kubwa to a point that Okada disappeared completely. Later on, we saw a resurgence of Okada and the menace has been very complicated in this axis.
“From what we heard from the Police Divisional headquarters in Kubwa, there had been so much burials resulting from deaths occasioned by Okada riders’ recklessness leading to accidents or the ones they killed during mob action.
“The Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello during the last executive meeting gave a marching order that all components of the FCTA task force should clean Kubwa of Okada because they come to tge expressway in flagrant disregard of traffic rules, they mess up the roads and commit mayhem”, Ikharo added.
The Head of DRTS Operation, Deborah Osho confirmed that 94 bikes were impounded during the operation which she promised would be sustained.
“About 94 bikes were impounded today from Kubwa and Dutse and the operation will continue”, she stated.
