Ondo Warns Okada Riders Against Harassing Accident Victims

Ondo State government has warned commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada found at accident scenes harassing victims to desist from such attitude, saying anyone caught indulging in the act would be arrested and be made to face the wrath of the law.

The state acting governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa stated this at a meeting organised with leaders and commercial motorcyclists in Akure.

LEADERSHIP recalled that on Easter Monday, a mob, consisting mostly Okada riders, stoned 35-year old Tope Olorunfemi to death for allegedly crushing two people to death and injuring six others with his vehicle after ramming into about five commercial motorcycles.

Aiyedatiwa, however, said that commercial motorcyclists should desist from taking laws into their hands and learn to follow and believe in the rule of law.

The acting governor, who said that accidents were inevitable, warned that anybody caught in the act of jungle justice after the recent incident would find himself cooling off in prison.

Aiyedatiwa said the last time he met with Okada Riders, it was to celebrate with them, but the meeting was to warn them to desist from acts of always attacking other road users when accidents happened.

“Don’t let us kill ourselves when accidents happen, let’s always sympathise and take victims to hospital for medical attention.

“Next time that such happens and you are gathering to start problems, all of you present will be first taken to prison before trial, go and repent and change your ways, we are all one.

“Today is to come and warn you and we had previously warned you that we don’t want breaking of law and you must trust the law of the government.

“There is dignity in labour and you must be proud of all you are doing, don’t always assume that other road users are your enemies.

“Most of you are big men that have trained children with this work and you assume that those in the car are richer than you?,” he said.

Responding, the motorcyclists coordinator in the state, Isaac Sico said not all their members were troublemakers, saying only a few bad eggs were the ones giving them bad names.