News

Ibadan Stakeholders Raise Concern Over Influx of Unregistered Foreigners

By Web News 622

Some stakeholders in Ibadan have decried the influx of strangers into the city from neighboring African countries.

This was part of the communique issued at a security meeting organized by the Compound peace Initiative held at Ibadan House, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan.

According to the communique, the call became imperative considering the high rate of insecurity across the nation, particularly in the southwest region.

The stakeholders who include chiefs, family heads, Mogajis, and Baales in Ibadan land said there was need to re-strategize the security of the region, especially Ibadanland.

They frowned at the influx of motorcycle riders and scavengers from Lagos majority of whom they suspected to have come from neighboring countries without proper means of identification.

“We reject their influx and the danger they posed to the safety of our lives and property, they have mixed with our people by virtue of their motorcycle and other businesses,”

The stakeholders also asked the government to set up a security committee that would consist of retired military personnel, police and paramilitary in order to curtail excesses the strangers before it cause unrest in the city.

They commended Oyo State Government and security agencies for their efforts so far, urging them to do more to reduce insecurity to the barest minimum.

Those at the meeting include representatives of Olubadan of Ibadan land, Chief Ademola Odunade; President of Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori; representative of CCII President General, Prince Yemisi Adeaga; Convener of Compound Peace Initiative, Chief Dotun Sanusi; former CCII President General, Yemi Soladoye; Association of Baales of Ibadan land President, Elder Taye Ayorinde; Coordinator of Compound Peace Initiative, Mogaji (Asiwaju) Nurudeen Akinade; Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria in Oyo State; representatives of Chief Imam of Ibadan land and Muslim Community in Ibadan land and Traditionalist among others

Rasheedah Makinde

News

Lekki residents alerted against planned attack by motorcyclists

By Web News 510

The Oniru of Iru Land, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal Abisogun II, has alerted residents of Lekki to plans to attack the area by commercial motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders.

The caution was contained in a circular issued on Wednesday, titled, ‘Urgent security alert’, and signed by the Oniru Chieftancy Family Estate Office.

The warning is coming hours after the Lagos State Governor banned Okada operations in Lekki and other areas in the state.

According to report, the operatives of the Lagos State Taskforce raided  the area after a sound engineer, David Imoh, was allegedly murdered over N100 balance.

The monarch advised residents not to panic but caution them to be security conscious.

The statement read, “Intelligence report reaching us is that following the raid on Okada riders and seizure of their bikes in Lekki Phase 1, the riders believed the action was instigated by Lekki residents who are determined to take away their source of livelihood.

“To this end, there are plans to invade inner streets to cause havoc anytime from now in Lekki.

Punch/Taiwo Akinola

Transportation

Okada Riders Reject “Outrageous” Levy By Ogun Govt.

By Web News 785

Commercial motorcyclists in Ogun state have rejected the government directive to register at one of the state’s designated registration points across the state within ten days or risk arrest.
Some of the riders while speaking with newsmen in Abeokuta said registration fee imposed by the government was insensitive and outrageous.

According to two of them, Mr. Rafiu Akanbi and Michael Sote, the imposition of the outrageous levy on the riders was a plot to multiply the taxes already levied on them.

They called on the government to reduce the associations collecting dues from the riders.

Also speaking, another rider, Mr. Kunle Adelaja, said the government should pay more attention to fixing the deplorable roads in the state before considering imposition of the high registration fee.

An official of the motorcyclists’ union in the state, Mr. Olalekan Sonaola, however, appealed to the riders not to take laws into their hands but to engage with their secretariat when they are facing challenges.

It would be recalled that the Ogun State government had issued a ten-day ultimatum to the commercial motorcyclists to register their operations at registration points set up across the 20 Local government areas of the state.

Wale Oluokun

Transportation

Osun Govt Limit Okada Operations Till 8 PM

By Web News 858

Osun State governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, has directed full documentation and registration of all commercial motorcycles operations and operators in the state within the next two weeks.

Governor Oyetola who gave the directive at a meeting with the leadership of the associations of commercial motorcycle operators in the state also ordered a daily 8 PM closing of operation period for them.

The governor said anyone who is not covered in the registration risks suspension of their operations.

He described the move as part of efforts to firm up security in the state, following recent looting, vandalization of government and private properties and general disruption of peace.

The Osun State governor expressed displeasure at the way motorcycle operators allowed themselves to be used to cause unprecedented damage around the state in the last few days.

Mr Oyetola maintained that commercial motorcyclists were involved in ferrying looters from house to house to perpetrate evil as well as being paid to transport hoodlums to destroy people’s businesses.

He said the government was aware that okada business was a source of livelihood and not all of them were criminals but the events of the past few days had shown that the criminal elements among them had become a threat to the peace of Osun State.

In their response, the representatives of the various associations of the commercial motorcyclists in the state apologised to the governor for the role some of their members played in causing devastation across the state and promised to comply with the directives of the state government.

Adenitan Akinola