By Philip Yatai
The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says crushing impounded commercial motorcycles remained the best option to addressing their menace in the territory.
The directorate’s Head of Operations, Mrs Deborah Osho, stated this on Thursday during routine operations to impound commercial motorcycles operating illegally in the capital city.
Osho argued that fines, as alternative to crushing the impounded “Okada”, would not solve the problem, considering that even when the motorcycles were being crushed, the operators were still violating the ban.
She added that “the fine doesn’t work again. We are looking for a stiffer penalty to make sure we rid the city of the menace of Okada operators.
“There are plans for other punitive measures to address the menace, and we will make it public when concluded.
“As long as Okada operators continue to violate the ban on operating within the city, we will continue to pick them up.”
She insisted that all impounded motorcycles would be crushed.
In his remarks, Dr Peter Olumuji, the Secretary, Command and Control Centre, FCTA Department of Security Services, said impoundment operations would continue day and night.
Olumuji explained that the exercise followed residents’ outcry on the continued menace of commercial motorcycle operators in the city.
He said “residents have been complaining about the nefarious activities of commercial motorcyclists, who are banned from operating in the capital city.
“The Okada riders have been operating in the city, disobeying traffic regulations and perpetuating all kinds of criminalities.
“A lot of people have been attacked by the operators, especially at night.”
The secretary also agreed with the position of DRTS that crushing impounded motorcycles remained the best option for now.
According to him, the measure will discourage the public from misunderstanding government actions and intentions.
He added that if the “Okadas” were not publicly crushed, people would begin to question the genuineness of the impoundment exercise with endless allegations.
He, however, said “DRTS does not crush without a Crushing Order from the court.”
Olumuji also refuted the allegation that the motorcycles distributed to security agencies to fight crime in rural communities were part of the impounded ones.
He explained that the distributed motorcycles were procured by the FCT Administration and commended residents for supporting security agencies to rid the city of the menace of Okada.
He urged residents to report their security concerns to relevant authorities.(NAN)
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu
