‘ They attacked us with machetes, stones…’

Commercial motorcycle operators, task force clash in Lagos

The operatives of the Lagos State Task Force encountered clashed with some motorcyclists plying illegal routes around Apapa, Lagos at the weekend.

The fracas, The Guardian learnt, took place during the Environmental Sanitation Exercise on Saturday.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, who spoke to The Guardian on telephone, disclosed that both the Nigeria Police Force and paramilitary agencies were detailed to different parts of the state for monitoring and total compliance with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Day across the state.

“On environmental sanitation days, commercial activities, including movement of persons and vehicles, are usually restricted between 7:00a.m. and 10:00a.m. according to state laws,” he said.

He, however, disclosed that people were sighted in Apapa flagrantly engaging in all sorts of illegal commercial activities. It was gathered that motorcycle operators were the most culpable as they picked and dropped passengers indiscriminately.

He said task force officials were monitoring and enforcing a total compliance by arresting miscreants, hoodlums and impounding motorcycles on restricted routes around the area, when motorcycle operators allegedly mobilised themselves in their hundreds and attacked the agency’s operatives with stones, machetes, broken bottles and woods.

They mobilised miscreants, who were mainly motorcycle operators, to damage the windscreens and front lights of four trucks belonging to the agency while two other Hilux vehicles were destroyed with one driver injured on his head.

Egbeyemi told The Guardian that during the fracas, the operatives of the agency successfully impounded 27 motorcycles and arrested five of the motorcycle operators, who were mainly Chadians and Nigeriens. He, however, confirmed that the Lagos State government had directed that the entire Apapa area be thoroughly sanitised of miscreants, including motorcycle operators, plying restricted routes for a safer and a cleaner environment for the people of Apapa and the state in general.

He, therefore, urged residents of Apapa and its environs to give a maximum cooperation and support to the agency during the operation

‘Total Enforcement on Environmental Sanitation Exercise’ around Apapa

Five of the miscreant’s arrested were Belo Sheu, 17, Ali Don, 20, Aminu Ataru, 22, Musa Yahusa, 15 and Saliu Musa, 30years old.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police boss, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, who was briefed journalists about the incident, directed that all those arrested in connection with all damaged government vehicles to be immediately charged to court for ‘malicious damage of government property’.