There is a growing panic among residents of the border communities of Ogun State following the influx of commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders) into their domains.
The Lagos State government on Tuesday, June 1, 2022, began a massive clampdown on okada riders in the state following the announcement of a total ban on their activities in six Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas of the state.
The affected areas include Ikeja, Surulere, Eti Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.
However, since the announcement and enforcement, Giwa, Oke-Aro, Akute, and Agbado Crossing have witnessed the influx of okada riders, mostly northerners, thereby causing panic among residents of these areas.
Some of them spoke to Newsbreak.ng and expressed their worries.
We Now Live In Fear Of Okada Riders – Residents
According to residents of Giwa Oke-Aro in Ogun State, they can no longer sleep with their eyes closed for safety reasons.
Abiola, a resident of Morgan Street, Giwa, said the community must find a way to resist the influx of the okada riders, mostly Hausas.
“We now live in fear in this area. Before Lagos banned them (okada riders), we have mostly Yorubas plying these sides. Now, that has changed.
“If you look around now, before you see one Yoruba rider, you would see 15 Hausas.
“We no longer feel safe and we can’t sleep with our eyes closed because anything can happen at any time,” he said.
Another resident of Matogun, Mr Rafiu, blamed the influx on the leadership of the okada riders in the area.
He said, “The leadership of the okada unions here are just greedy.
“It is about the money they can get. Yesterday, I counted over 47 Hausa riders.
“This is scary. I have lived here for over 30 years but for the first time, I really don’t feel safe. Help us tell the authorities that our lives are in danger.”
Mrs Oguntade from Olambe shared the same views as others who spoke with Newsbreak.ng.
According to her, if people are not careful, the unfortunate incident that happened in Lekki (killing of a sound engineer) might repeat itself.
“Have you seen anywhere these people are? It is always trouble. They will soon start claiming boss on people in this area.
“Additionally, they are lawless and have no regard for human life.
“I am calling on our people to stay alert. We must not allow them do what they did in Lekki here.
“How could you burn a human being because of N100? I don’t even understand,” she said.
‘We Don’t Have A Governor’
Some residents accused Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun of allowing the influx of the okada riders.
For them, the governor is not proactive enough.
Olawale, a resident of Agbado Oja said Governor Abiodun should have known that the okada riders will move to the state after the ban by Lagos State.
“I must tell you that we do not have a governor in this state.
“Currently, look at our roads. You can see the state of this place. Where is the presence of a government?
“Now, the okada riders are here again. They ran from Fagba, Ikeja and other places.
“Our governor should have made plans to stop such if he is proactive,” he said.
A market woman (Name withheld) who said she lives in Ijoko also lamented the influx of the okada riders.
She said, “I don’t understand what is going on again.
“Recently, we keep seeing new faces in my area and they are Hausa okada riders.
“Later, I heard about the ban on okada riders in Lagos.
“Meanwhile, they are everywhere in Ijoko. It is not safe for us. Our governor should do something.
“If their trouble starts, nobody is safe.”
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