Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has said the seizure and destruction of commercial motorcycles by the Lagos State Government is targeted at Northern operators.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, the coalition described the action as rash, irrational, insensitive and wicked. He stated: “The Lagos State government, in just 72 hours of announcing the ban on okada, seize and subject 7,548 bikes, mostly owned and operated by Northerners, to the crusher.

“We note that, of recent, state governments in the South have resorted to imposing and enforcing controversial, unfriendly and damaging legislations that effectively curtail the right to freedom of movement of Northerners living in their midst. What is more disturbing is that, like in the current case of Lagos, the enforcers of these discriminatory laws, almost all the time, fail to draw the decent distinction between the Northerner as a citizen and commercial motorcycling as an occupation, from criminality.”

According to CNG, to the makers of these laws and their formal and informal enforcers, it matters little that just because some okada riders commit certain breaches does not make all motorcyclists criminals.

“In fact, they are enforcing the laws without taking into consideration that the vast majority of Northerners in Lagos, including those who are okada operators, are peaceful everyday people with the same needs, anxieties and hopes as the rest of Nigerians.

“This is not only a catalyst for further conflict, but also a clear contradiction of sections of the Nigerian Constitution that declare null and void any law in any part of the country that conflicts any of its provisions.”

especially on the right of every citizen to live and flourish in any part of the country, without discrimination or harassment,” he added.