Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, also known as Lagos Taskforce, on Thursday clashed with commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada in Ajao Estate, Airport Road, Lagos.
One policeman has been confirmed dead and several wounded.
ABN TV gathered that Task Force officers seized bikes and it turned violent.
Fights between Okada riders and Lagos State Taskforce officers is not new.
There is a section of the Environmental Sanitation Law of Lagos and the state’s Road Traffic Law 2012 which specified Environmental Offences throughout the state. There, the Task Force is empowered to impound or take custody of any vehicles, goods, wares, articles or things found in any place that is prohibited under any of the Laws specified in the law.
One of the reasons for the creation of the Taskforce is to address the problems of poor sanitary conditions and indiscriminate slum settlements and shanties in Lagos State. They can also arrest and prosecute persons who convert streets and public roads for religions, social and commercial function. Oftentimes too, they liaise with the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in arresting violators of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) dedicated lanes and corridors.
