- Measure was taken to curb crime involving the use of motorcycles
- There have been series of reports that criminal minded Okada riders use the hood, facemask to conceal their identity when committing crimes
The Osun State Police Command has banned the use of hoods and facemasks by commercial motorcyclists in the state.
The Command’s Spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola, who revealed this in a statement on Monday in Oshogbo, said that the measure was taken to curb crime involving the use of motorcycles in the state.
“The Osun State Police Command is using this medium to warn motorcyclists who use hood/facemasks to cover their heads, faces and nose, especially commercial motorcyclists popularly known as “Okada”, while riding their motorcycle to stop, forthwith.
“This stern warning becomes imperative due to a series of reports received by the police command that, criminal minded Okada riders use the hood to conceal their identity when committing crimes against innocent citizens, especially their passengers, during the night.
“The command enjoined the leadership of the Okada Riders Association in the state to warn their members against covering of their heads and faces in any form while riding their motorcycles.
“The command has mapped-out strategies to arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting in this regard,” Opalola said.
The spokesperson also called on members of the public not to board or engage the service of any commercial motorcyclist with hood/facemasks.
In another development, the Osun State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Mayowa Adejoorin has warned against indiscriminate disposal of waste in the state, saying plans were afoot to ensure the state is cleaner and livable.
Adejoorin who stated this to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday, however appealed to the residents to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse for forestall health hazards.
He stated that dredging of waterways are ongoing at Iwo and other areas in the state to forestall any form of flooding as it has been reported by forecasters that there is going to be flooding this year.
His words: “I just assumed work yesterday and I have directed our personnel who have been engaging in dredging of our waterways to be up and doing”.
The commissioner said dredging are ongoing at Iwo and other areas in the state adding that because the government is proactive, anything that will affect the welfare of the people, will not be toyed with.
He called on the people of Osun to as a matter of duty be conscious about their environment, that they should desist from dumping refuse on the waterways and places that are not marked for such.
Speaking on the issue of beautification of the state, the commissioner said his ministry would soon unfold government plans towards that direction.
Hon. Adejoorin, however, warned those entering government forest reserves without approval to desist henceforth saying, “Just yesterday that I assumed office, some people were arrested for entering the forest illegally, as we speak, they are in police custody”