Shoot-out in Lagos: Police, okada riders in fierce battle for supremacy

Hell was let loose at Festac area of Lagos State, last week, after operators of commercial motorcycle (popularly called okada), in their numbers, engaged a team of policemen in a fierce battle around 7th Avenue.
At the end of the shoot-out which lasted for over two hours, one of the motorcyclists was killed while others, including a policeman were severely wounded.

How the trouble started
Crime Guard gathered that trouble started brewing between the Police and okada riders after several reports were lodged at the Festac Police Division about the increasing reckless and criminal attitudes of commercial motorcyclists in and around the area. It was learnt that there had been series of serious complaints by residents of the area and visitors about the increasing number of the motorcyclists, coupled with their attendant dangers to other road users.

Jungle justice
Investigations revealed that they raised the alarm after it was noticed that, at the slightest provocation or brush with any motorist, the motorcyclists will invade the scene in large numbers and wreak havoc by either burning the vehicle or cannibalising it. “A few days ago, a Toyota Camry driven by a lady unavoidably brushed the motorcycle ridden by one dishevelled rider”, one of the residents told Crime Guard. “Before one could say Jack Robinson, no fewer than 200 okada riders gathered there in sympathy and before the lady could utter a word, her brand new car was set ablaze in broad daylight. After wreaking the havoc, the jubilant dirty fellows fled in different directions, leaving the lady helpless. Some even rough handled her.”

Criminal activities
The motorcyclists were alleged to be engaged in all sorts of criminal acts. Police sources said reports indicated that they normally trail people that go to banks to cash money and end up dispossessing them of their hard-earned money. According to one of the sources, “Recently, they waylaid a police patrol team at 4th and 5th Avenue and succeeded in killing one Corporal Emmanuel Emefiele while four of his colleagues escaped death narrowly but with serious wounds.

It was an unprovoked attack. They just sighted the patrol team and laid ambush for them. As soon as the policemen approached the spot where they normally park their motorcycles, they went haywire, attacking them with all sorts of dangerous weapons. Police later succeeded in arresting the suspected killers identified as Tari Vadaya Gau and Jona Vadiya. They were transferred to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), from where they were remanded in prison custody.

Police joint operation
Based on these ugly developments, Crime Guard gathered that a combined team of crack police squad from both the Area Command and Festac Division swung into action by embarking on a joint operation aimed at dislodging the motorcyclists and putting a stop to their increasing menace.

 
 Okada riders

It was learnt that as soon as the motorcyclists saw the police team personally led by ACP Frank Mba and SP Ifeanyi Owoh advancing towards their base at 7th Avenue, they opened fire on them with sophisticated weapons. Before the shocked police team could realise what was happening, another large number of the motorcyclists emerged from a different direction and started pelting them with missiles. The team reportedly returned fire for fire, and during the exchange that lasted for hours, one of the motorcyclists was killed while several others were severely wounded. Though there were claims and counter-claims over which side killed the deceased motorcyclist, the police also recorded a yet-to-be-known number of casualties on their side.

Arrests, recoveries
At the end, the police succeeded in arresting about 20 of the motorcyclists and recovered 120 motorcycles. They were later handed over to the State Government Task Force at Alausa for prosecution.

Since then, calm has returned to the area while the police has intensified constant raids at criminal hide-outs and black spots in and around the area.
A police source intimated that the menace of okada operators has been drastically curtailed since then while serious intelligence gathering is ongoing.
Source:Vanguard