Many injured as police open fire to enforce Okada ban in Lagos

On Thursday, the police in Lagos faced stiff resistance from commercial motorcyclists in the Ojo area of Lagos as they began enforce of the ban announced on Wednesday by the Lagos State government.
Many people sustained gunshot injuries in the melee that ensued after police fired shots to control the irate Okada riders resisting seizure of their vehicles.
Peoples Gazette learnt that violence broke out at about 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning when police officers from Onireke Police Station, began clampdown on Okada riders and their motorcycles around Barracks bus stop.
The security operatives then fired gunshots into the air to scare the okada riders but some residents got hit by the stray bullets, a source told The Gazette.
Some residents sustained injuries as they scampered for safety while some group of army and anti-riot police officers intervened and calm the situation.
The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday gave a directive on the total ban of the activities of the Okada riders in six local councils in the state.
The ban, which was billed to commence in June, was to put an end to menace of Okada riders in Lagos metropolis.
As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command is yet to comment on the matter.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

States
2023: Lawan, Kalu visit Katsina ahead of presidential primaries
“In the absence of this clear non-agreement of the southern brothers to support zoning of the tickets to the South-East, I wielded my support to the North-East.”

Sport
Wasteful Chelsea earn 1-1 draw against Leicester
Alonso on Thursday scored a glorious equaliser to earn a 1-1 home draw with Leicester City, despite the hosts being wasteful on the night.

Economy
Price of 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 89% in one year: NBS
On a year-on-year basis, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 89.10 per cent from N4,317.55 in April 2021.

Economy
Naira continues free fall; now N420 per dollar at I&E window
This represents a 0.26 depreciation from its value on Thursday where it was traded at N419.25.

Lagos
Lekki monarch places residents on red alert over impending Okada riders attack
The monarch said all access points within the Lekki community should be secured and all security guards should be on red alert.

NationWide
Buhari regime to recruit additional 10,000 constables: Police affairs minister
The minister said the recruitment drive is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive to employ 40,000 men.