Federal Capital Territory Ministerial Enforcement Task Force on COVID-19 Restrictions has arrested 29 commercial motorcycle operators, popularly called Okada riders who were on their way to Lagos.
The team said the motorcyclists were hiding in a truck with registration number LFA 837 ZX which left Lafia in Nasarawa State but was intercepted on Tuesday at the AYA Bridge in Asokoro District of the FCT.
The driver of the truck, Samaila Samiya, said he was carrying fine stones used in making marbles and tiles loaded in Taraba State and was heading to Lagos, but that on getting to Lafia, he decided to pick passengers after they agreed to pay N2,000.
Musa Simon, a passenger on the truck, said he was a commercial motorcyclist who left Lagos in the wake of COVID-19 lockdown and was returning with others apprehended to resume work following threats by motorcycle owners to sell off their motorcycles should they fail to resume work.
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Addressing newsmen in Eagle Square where those arrested were arraigned before a Mobile Court, Chairman of the Task Force team, Attah Ikharo, lamented that
“despite the series of arrests, prosecution and turning back of violators by the FCT Administration, many persons are yet to fully comply with the Presidential directive on inter-state travel ban.”
He said the truck and all its non-human contents would be impounded until the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted.
The men were arraigned before Magistrate Idayat Akonni who found them guilty and ruled that the truck be impounded. The driver was awarded a fine of N3,000, while the court ruled that all the occupants of the truck be sent back to their point of departure.
