EDSG To Set Up Tastforce To Checkmate Activities Of Okada Ridders

… Afegbua Insist Okada Is Ban In Benin City

The Edo State government has put all modalities in place to set up a Taskforce that will Checkmate the activities of motorcycle operations popularly known as Okada in the Benin metropolis to ensure that the crime rate and criminal activities are put under control.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, disclosed this to journalists in Benin City during a monthly media press briefing in the conference room of the Ministry along Sapele road in Benin City.

Afegbua said the growing activities of Okada ridders in Benin metropolis is becoming worrisome as the riders have defiled the ban and continued with their operations in Benin City.

He insisted that the ban remains in place in the Benin metropolis, noting that the ban is purely for security reasons. He said the Edo State government will set up a taskforce to check the activities of these riders in the Benin metropolis.

“Okada as a means of transportation remains ban in Benin City. We are not pretending about it, the reason why the ban was done in the first place was for security reasons.

“These days the report we get is worrisome as people use Okada to kidnap and engage in robbery. The riders take passengers to dark spots and bring out dangerous weapons to dispose them of their belongings and this will no longer be tolerated.

“If you are caught, you will be arrested and made to face the law as there will be a taskforce on that as the governor is working very hard to improve security in the State ensuring that all Edo citizens are safe.

“Part of the responsibility to set up the taskforce which the commissioner of public safety and security will be part of, is on how to streamline the activities of Okada riders”.

On the Osun governorship election, Afegbua said it’s not a crime for Edo State governor Senator Monday Okpebholo to campaign for All progressive Congress (APC) candidates in the Saturday election, adding that what he has done is for the solidarity for his party’s candidate.

“It’s not a crime to campaign for his party member in the Osun gubernatorial election who is also in the race for the governorship seat. It’s not a crime to show solidarity to your party’s candidate. It will be good to hear that APC wins the election in Osun State and that would have to be through a deliberate campaign”