Barely 72 hours into the formal enforcement of the ban on motor bikes also known as okada in some parts of Lagos State, some stakeholders of Ikorodu Division has appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu to extend the ban on okada to Ikorodu Division.
Making a case for stakeholders of the division at a Peace & Security Stakeholders Meeting held at Ikorodu Town Hall on Thursday, 2nd June, 2022, the Agba Akin of Ikorodu and Chairman of Publicity, Information and Education Committee of the Ikorodu Division Peace Initiative (IDPILG), Otunba Ayodele Elesho stated this on behalf of the gathering.
The Peace and Security Stakeholders Meeting was attended by security operatives, community leaders, CDA representatives, Baales, traditional rulers and some operatives of the Ikorodu Division Peace Corps.
Clarifying the position of the organization, Elesho noted that, while he was not asking for complete ban of okada in Ikorodu Division, he noted that their operations should be restricted to inner routes and communities.
They also stressed the need for identification of foreign immigrants among the bike riders to ensure the maintenance of peace and security in Ikorodu Division.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of IDPI, Otunba Ganiyu Olusegun Abiru stated that the peace and security meeting was called to x-ray the security peculiarities of Ikorodu Division with a view to profering solutions to them.
Chairman of the occassion and a former Minister for Works, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe who was represented by Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe praised IDPIL for the peace initiative, while commending the body for complimenting government’s efforts in securing the Division.
A Deputy Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, ACP Bode Fakeye in his remarks blamed the society for aiding and abeitng crime, by supporting criminal elements who are families, friends and sometimes neighbours. He also called on government to provide conducive working environment and adequate welfare packages for the police.
Corroborating ACP Fakeye, a notable legal luminary, Barr S.O.K Shillings also blamed bank officials for conniving with fraudsters to rob innocent citizens of their hard earned money.
He also blamed the police authority and some traditional rulers for collaborating with land grabbers to steal traditional inheritances of indigenes.
He concluded by seeking for strategic collaboration between traditional institutions, the police and family land owners to resolve issues relating to land disputes without involving the police.
ACP Bode Fakeye in his remarks blamed the society for aiding and abeitng crime, by supporting criminal elements who are families, friends and sometimes neighbours. He also called on government to provide conducive working environment and adequate welfare packages for the police.
Corroborating ACP Fakeye, a notable legal luminary, Barr S.O.K Shillings also blamed Bank officials for conniving with fraudsters to rob innocent citizens of their hard earned money.
He also blamed the police authority and some traditional rulers for collaborating with land grabbers to steal traditional inheritances of indigenes.
The former Ikorodu NBA Chair concluded by seeking for the collaboration between traditional institute, the police and family land owners to resolve issues relating to land disputes without involving the police.
Speaking on the root cause of criminal activities in Ikorodu Division, Commandant of Ikorodu Division Peace Corps, Mr Lanre Labinjo noted that the problem of criminality in the division is homegrown. He traced the root cause to landgrabbing, which translates into cultism and now full blown criminality. He disclosed that, some traditional rulers are backers of these criminals. He also stressed the need to take the security and peace meetings to the interiors which are the hotbeds of these criminality. He concluded by blaming the slow grinding of the wheels of justice as reasons for the escalation of land disputes in the Division.
In her remarks, the Iyaloja of Oliwo Odikan market, Ikorodu Alh Fehintola Jaiyesimi blamed the criminal activities in the division to loss of parental control and authority by many families who have failed in their responsibility to their children.
She urged all stakeholders to ensure the profiling of strange elements in the communities, particularly abandoned family houses, to ensure peace and security is restored to the Division.
DPO Ikorodu Police Station, Mr Remo Balogun noted that miscreants, drug peddling, cultism, petty thieves, landlord /tenant and tenant/tenant are regular matters that is commonplace in Ikorodu Division.
He listed laziness, lying, ignorance and unemployment, delayed justice and undue interference by influential people as the root cause of criminality currently being witnessed in Ikorodu Division.
Participants were unanimous in condemning the spate of criminality and threats to peace and security of Ikorodu Division.
They also called on residents and other community stakeholders to support the sustenance of the peace and security initiatives through regular financial contributions.
