20 okada riders robbed, killed in three weeks – Amotekun

The Ondo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) on Wednesday said about 20 commercial motorcyclists, aka okada riders, had been robbed and killed in the last three weeks across the state.

The corps, which reiterated its determination to reduce all criminal activities added that it had begun 24-hour patrol to ensure adequate protection of lives and property before, during, and after the Christmas season.

The state Commander of the corps,  Adetunji Adeleye, stated this in Akure during the parade of 11 suspects arrested for various crimes.

Adeleye, who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu on Security Matters, stressed that the state government’s ban on commercial motorcycles from 6pm to 6am was still on but would not affect motorcycles on essential duties.

He said, “A total of 20 cases of commercial motorcyclists killed and their motorcycles stolen was recorded in the last three weeks, so it is risky to ride motorcycles at night.

“We want to appeal to commercial motorcyclists to go and rest if they work for 12 hours so that we can identify the criminal entities. It is also no longer permitted for vehicles to ply the road without registration numbers, and all vehicles with tinted glass should obtain police permits for them.

“Dealers should use dealer numbers and not stickers because all vehicles with stickers will be impounded. These are some measures we put in place to guarantee safety of lives and properties in Ondo State.”

Adeleye explained that six of the suspects, who were paraded, were arrested with locally-made weapons as they were allegedly preparing to “destabilise innocent residents and commuters in Ondo State.”

On the 24-hour ember months’ patrol, Adeleye said his men would be deployed in all blackspots that had been observed across the state, especially Akure.