By Hassan Zaggi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has explained its efforts to enforce the ban on motorcyles in some parts of the capital city was the reason for the clash between the motorcycle riders popularly known as okada and the police in FCT on Tuesday.
A statement by the Command Spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Josephine Edeh, recalled that following the ban of motorcycles in some parts of the FCT by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the FCT Police Command held several meetings with the various heads of motorcycle units across the territory which activated an enforcement exercise at the various Divisional and Area Commands.
The FCT Police Command explained that while enforcing the ban on motorcyles, it officers attached to Durumi Divisional Headquarters arrested 20 motorcycles for violating the ban.
According to DSP Josephine Edeh, the motorcycles were taken to the Division and subsequently handed over to the Vehicle Inspection Officers
(VIO) for screening.
“Upon sighting the VIO at the Division, the errant motorcyclist in their numbers decided to obstruct the VIO from moving out of the station and started attacking the officers.
“The police swung into action, dispersing the violent motorcycle riders who took to the street to express their displeasure.”
She explained that, no life was, however, lost nor properties damaged, stressing that: “Normalcy has since been restored.”
The Command, therefore, urged residents of the FCT not to panic but that they should to go about their lawful business while monitoring of the area and surveillance continues.
