Taskforce arrests 10 Gokada riders, impounds 23 bikes

Operatives of the Lagos State Task Force yesterday arrested 10 commercial motorcycle riders operating under the business name ‘Gokada’ for allegedly operating on unapproved routes in the state.

The operatives impounded 23 motorcycles in the process.

The Chairman of the agency, Chief Superintendent of Police Olayinka Egbeyemi, who led the operation, ordered owners/operators of the motorcycles to immediately comply with the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012.

Egbeyemi gave the directive during an enforcement exercise in the Ikeja, Ojota, and Maryland areas on motorcyclists operating on restricted routes or plying wrong (one-way) lanes.

The task force boss revealed that out of 115 motorcycles impounded during the operation, 22 were branded commercial ‘Gokada’ and ‘Maxokada’.

He said that the activities of the newly branded commercial motorcycle operators were illegal and without any valid documentation from the state government.

He declared that without valid approval in accordance with the law, no commercial motorcycle operator was allowed to operate on the 475 restricted routes, which he said included highways and bridges across the state.

“The state government enjoins members of the public to henceforth desist from patronising commercial motorcyclists on all restricted routes as passengers are as well liable for prosecution.

“It was an eye-sore seeing operators of these newly branded commercial motorcycles (Gokada/ Maxokada) competing for right of way with motorists on highways and bridges,” he said.

Egbeyemi stated that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, has directed that the 10 arrested riders be immediately charged to court for prosecution.

One of the arrested ‘Gokada’ riders, Ayeni Francis, who claimed to be paying N3000 per day to the owners of the brand, said he and his colleagues were not aware of any documentation they needed to do with the government.

Another arrested rider, Mr Adebayo Adeniran, lamented that he only recently collected a Maxokada branded commercial motorcycle on higher purchase from the company’s management after he presented a guarantor.