Lagos: Outrage as Okada riders repeatedly run over, kill taskforce officer

Commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as okada riders have killed an official of the Lagos State Task Force who was among some officials who went on an illegal duty.

Already, two police officers attached to the Lagos State Taskforce have been arrested and are facing disciplinary action for leading the ill-fated illegal duty.

There is a viral video showing where an official of the taskforce was killed by okada riders. They used their motorcycle to repeatedly run over the man as he died a slow and agonising death.

So far, the killing has generated serious outrage from members of the public who described the act as wicked.

A eye witness, Mark Chijioke, said: “We saw officials of the Lagos State Taskforce arresting and collecting money from okada riders. Along the line, one of the riders claimed that he knew one of the officials to be fake. Immediately, other okada riders started fighting the officials; then the policemen took to their heels. One of the officials was unlucky that he was caught and beaten to stupor. The angry okada riders did not stop at beating him, they also used their okada to run over him severally. They did that for many times before the man finally died.

“Much as I condemn extortion, I do not subscribe to killing the man. They should have handed him over to the police.

“The scene was a gory one to behold. The okada riders were so wicked that they were running their okada repeatedly over the man. Some did that over his head, while others ran over his body.

“The police should fish out the perpetrators of the act and bring them to justice.”

According to Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Benjamin Hundyin, the officials on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 went on illegal duty, taking some civilians with them to shore up their numbers.

“They came under attack from motorcycle riders, resulting in the death of one of the civilians.

“While disciplinary actions have commenced on the already detained police officers, and search is on for their civilian accomplices, investigations have commenced to identify, arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this dastardly act.”

Credit: The Sun