Police harassment: Cyclists implore Ambode, CP to intervene

Members of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycles Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Egbeda Akowonjo Branch, have appealed to the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kayode Aderanti to stop their men from harassing motorcyclists plying streets.

Speaking during the members solidarity rally for Ambode and President Muhamadu Buhari, on Friday, the chairman of (ACOMORAN), Mr. Ogundare Olaoluwa, said: “We’ve complied with the restriction of movement on the highways from the previous government, but policemen are still coming after our members who are plying the inner street.  We’re not defaulters of the law. We’re tired of the incessant harassment, extortion from the policemen. We want the governor to intervene and order these order policemen to stop seizing our members’ motorcycles. I believe there are enormous responsibilities on Ambode’s shoulders and the expectations of residents of Lagos are high, but I want him to look into our plight and consider us. This motor cycling business is the only place we get and make our daily income.”

According to Olaoluwa, presently, majority of youths who were supposed to engage in criminal activities had taken to motorcycle riding.

He noted that the embracing of that vocation had reduced the crime rate in the state, adding: “We want a crime free state.”

Olaoluwa, however, appealed to President Buhari to look into the fuel scarcity issue. The chairman said that if the fuel crisis is not resolved, motorcyclists would soon go out of business, including other business people.

The General Secretary of the association, Adekunle Odewale, said: “We’re organising the rally to show to Governor and the President that we are solidly behind them because power belongs to God alone. I want the present government to give us more roads to ply in the state, away from the prohibited ones. We want the government to lift the prohibition on Oguntade Shasha Road. This particular road is important to our business. We used to pick more passengers along that stretch of road.”