DELTA CP COMMENDS ‘KNOW YOUR OKADA RIDER’ INITIATIVE OF OSHIMILI NORTH

The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command of the Nigerian Police Force, Dr. Ali Mohammed Ari, has commended the Oshimili North Local Governnent for taking steps to curb the excesses of criminally minded commercial motorcyclists, popularly called okada riders, in the area.

The CP gave the commendation at the Command’s headquarters in Asaba on Monday after the Oshimili North Local Governnent Chairman, Hon Innocent Esewezie, briefed him on the Operation Know Your Okada Rider initiated by the Council to monitor the activities of okada riders in Ibusa.

He noted that some commercial motorcyclists were in the business to perpetuate crimes, describing the Oshimili North initiative as a bold step towards assisting the police to fight crime.

CP Ari pledged the support of the Command in the enforcement of the ‘No Vest No Ride’ rule for okada riders in Ibusa and other parts of the local governnent area and warned that any okada rider found without the vest would be arrested.

He said the initiative was in the best interest of okada operators and residents of Oshimili North Local Governnent Area and solicited the support of members of the public to make it work.

The Oshimili North Council Chairman, Hon Innocent Esewezie, had told the CP that the initiative, which had seen to the registration and issuance of branded vests to 1000 commercial motorcyclists in Ibusa alone, was informed by the need to be proactive in curbing security challenges within the communities in the Local Governnent Area.

Hon Esewezie cited the recent attack on a police checkpoint in Ibusa by 15 unidentified gunmen who came on motorcycles as the major reason for the Know Your Okada Rider initiative, pointing out that series of meetings had been held with the relevant security outfits and stakeholders in the build up to actualizing the project.

He said the exercise, which was designed to successfully trace any bike rider, should the need arise, had been concluded in Ibusa and would soon be extended to Okpanam, and solicited the support of the State Police Command in the enforcement of the initiative.

The Council Chairman was accompanied by the Divisional Police Officer of the Ibusa Division, Mr. Obioji Chidi, a Superintendent of Police (SP)