Inspector killed as police clash with Okada riders in Lagos

An unidentified police officer has been killed during a clash between security operatives and commercial motorcyclists in Lagos.

TheCable understands that the incident happened around Cele bus stop, Apapa-Oshodi road.

It was learnt that violence broke out in the area when police officers attempted to arrest some of the commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as okada riders.

The commercial motorcyclists were said to have resisted arrest using cutlasses, and other objects to attack the police officers.

Confirming the incident, Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, in a statement on Wednesday, said the police officers were at the scene to enforce the existing ban on motorcycles in some parts of the state.

Hundeyin added that a police inspector was murdered and a divisional police officer (DPO) was seriously injured.

“Two suspects have been arrested while 41 motorcycles were impounded. The Lagos State Police Command will not be deterred from carrying out its mandate of enforcing duly established laws,” the statement reads.

While enforcing the existing ban on the use of motorcycles in parts of Lagos State, Police Officers of Isolo Division came under attack from motorcycle riders at Cele bus-stop, resulting in the death of one Police Inspector & serious injury to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) April 5, 2023

The incident was not the first time a police officer would be killed during enforcement of ban on commercial motorcyclists in Lagos.

In September 2021, Kazeem Abonde, chief superintendent of police (CSP), was killed during a clash between commercial motorcyclists and police officers at Ajao estate area of the state.

The police officers had visited the area for an operation — to impound commercial motorcycles.

The Lagos state government imposed a ban on the activities of motorcyclists in 10 LGAs and 15 local council development areas (LCDAs).

The affected LGAs are Kosofe, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Mushin, Apapa, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Surulere, and Eti-Osa.