Police begin seizure of okadas in Lagos •As BRT buses withdraw operation on Akowonjo axis

IN a bid to prevent a continuation of the ongoing protests by operators of commercial motorcycle popularly called okada in Lagos, officers and men of the Nigerian Police, on Wednesday, came down on motorcyclists in the state.
  The initiative began in the morning, even as luxury buses, which operated earlier in the day around the Akowonjo–Iyana Ipaja axis, were attacked by embattled protesters, until the buses were hurriedly withdrawn.
The effort of the police resulted in the seizure of hundreds of motorcycles found on the roads.
Some of those whose motorcycles were impounded posited that the operatives told them that the government had banned operations of motorcycles in the metropolis.
“They do not want to know whether you are on commercial run, kitted in helmet or not; once they successfully swoop on you, they deprive you of your motorcycle.
“However, if you have as much as N15,000 on you, you may be able to redeem your motorcycle while in transit. Once they have reached Alausa, even the police commissioner can’t get it out again,” said one Bolaji Raufu, who said he was standing nearby as they dismantled his motorcycle, preparatory to its destruction.
Meanwhile, operators of the luxury buses on the Akonwonjo-Iyana Ipaja axis had to hurriedly withdraw them after protesters moved against them, destroying three of the buses.
A senior staff member of the Bus Franchise Service (BFS), who spoke on condition of anonymity, saidthe management hurriedly ordered the buses back to base, after it confirmed that the protesters had destroyed about three.
The Tribune