OSUN: Prevent Okada Riders Loosing Lives & Motorcycles To Hoodlums, Afeez Adebayo Calls For Action In Osogbo

Adebayo Afeez is a social commentator, public affairs analyst and a reporter from Osogbo. In this piece titled “SAVE OKADA RIDERS’ LIVES IN OSOGBO AND ITS ENVIRONS” calling the attention of the security agencies and the general public on how to curb the menace of okoda riders loosing both their lives and the motorcycles to the hoodlums in the capital city of Osun State and its environ.

Read below:

I’m writing this short but sensitive open letter to whom it may concern. I don’t know if we are aware of the ongoing negative trend in our dear town, because this is not the best of time for Okada riders and passengers alike in osogbo & its environments for some period of time now, as hoodlums have started snatching motorcycles from Okada riders.

Just within few days, I was privileged to directly hear from some Okada riders their ugly experiences and that of their colleagues who have been victims of these ‘Okada snatchers’. These bandits, according to reports, adopts series of wicked tactics ranging from stabbing of their abductees in the neck from behind, application of mysterious ring, strangulation, forceful push into soak away pits, gunpoint snatching and other satanic styles in carrying out their dirty job.

It must be emphasised that, this devilish act is increasingly becoming a daily occurrence: severe pains are being caused to families, lives are being lost, huge financial losses are being recorded, the environment is becoming terrorized and depression is indirectly finding its way back to lives of hardworking men who ab binitio found themselves riding motorcycle as a means of survival because of what the situation of the country is.

The saddening part is, the price of a motorcycle at the market is on alarming high, these Okada riders will have to do hired purchase at this skyrocket price to repay in installment, but they are still being confronted with these unfortunate fellows whose only job is to steal and cause unimaginable pains to others.

Without mincing word, a very urgent problem needs a very urgent intervention:

👆The security architecture of the state must be restructured in such a way that will guarantee a broad policing of every nooks and crannies.

👆 Proper security checks/blocks on our boundaries to keep a close tab on what comes in and goes out.

👆There must be a synergy between the NPF with the local security agencies & community heads in enforcing a house to house policing.

👆There must be a special task force by the Nigeria police to tackle this ugly menace and

👆 Severe punishment for perpetrators without unnecessary delay in judgement.

These are my personal thoughts on what could be done to help and save many lives. I couldn’t just hold my peace hearing news like this everyday, the appropriate authorities are hereby enjoined to spring into actions and take responsibility for security of lives and properties of these innocent Nigerians.

Okada riders are humans, they have not sinned God for working hard to survive, so let’s work round the clock to make sure our society is saved from the hands of these bandits.

Let’s prevent, so as to avoid running miles in search of cure.

Afeez Adebayo Mukaila is my name.
Ogundiran’s compound,
Obate, Osogbo.