Police brutality,extortion: Okada riders report Police to Oba Oyefusi

Thousands of commercial motorcycle riders in Ikorodu, under the aegis of Motorcycle Owners Association, Lagos State (MOALS) and Tri-cycle riders, popularly called "Keke Marwa," on November 26, 2012, stormed the Royal Castle of Peace home of Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba (Dr) Salaudeen Adekoya Oyefusi CON, GCOI, to protest against police extortion and brutality in enforcing the ban on highways.

The riders, numbering more than 2000, had stormed the Ayangburen palace around 9am from where hundreds of them, with their leaders, moved to the Lowa house of HRM Oba (Dr) Salaudeen A.A. Oyefusi (CON,GCOI), the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, where they bitterly complained about the treatment being meted out to them by the men of Nigerian police in Ikorodu.
Presenting their case before Oba Ayangburen, Olori Muyibat Oyefusi, High Chief Kabir Sotobi (the Odofin of Ikorodu) and Chief Banjoko (Bobaseye of Ikorodu), the MOALS Chairman, Mr Kayode Jimoh Pashoku (Jendo), said that their men are been harassed, molested and ill treated by the police in Ikorodu, especially the officers of Shagamu road and Ipakodo police stations.

The MOALS chairman said their association had petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly through the representative of Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Sinai O.B. Agunbiade, where the illegal activities and brutality of the officers of Nigerian police in Ikorodu were made known.
Pashoku accused police officers of demanding N20, 000 before seized okadas could be released to his men. A visibly angry chairman also informed the Kabiyesi of how the police officers, especially from Shagamu road police station, used stick and iron on riders in trying to seize their motorcycles. 

"The police has turned us to ATM, where they can make money easily. They demand for huge amount that we don't have and make lives unbearable for common man. We are tired of their brutality and extortion and before the situation turns ugly, we felt we should protest to necessary quarters", said Pashoku.The 'okada' chairman also pleaded for the referred monarch's intervention in asking the state government to lift ban on some roads within the town – Ayangburen, Ireshe, Ikorodu-Igbogbo, Ogolonto-Ipakodo, Alhaji street, Ebute-Ibeshe and Awolowo roads. Pashoku argued that all the fuel stations in Ikorodu are located on the banned roads, which make refilling difficult for riders.
Speaking, the Odofin of Ikorodu berated the riders for storming the residence of the Ikorodu monarch without prior notification but assured them of the royal father's intervention. 
Olori Oyefusi, also speaking, condemned the attitudes of okada riders on the road, especially situations where they don't accord the monarch's vehicle respect on the road. To correct their nuisance, Olori suggested that the union leadership should from time to time organize public lecture to educate their men. She also assured that the royal family will engage necessary authorities on their complaints.

In his own reaction, Oba Oyefusi thanked the riders for protesting to him and not taking the law into their hands. The monarch, who enjoined the protesters to continue to be law abiding, also assured them of his intervention with the leadership of police in Ikorodu and other necessary government agencies.
Marching back to the Ayangburen palace from the Lowa residence of Oba Oyefusi, it was a complete stand still for vehicles plying Lowa, Etunrenren and Ayangburen roads as the riders completely took over the roads. At the palace, they had a rally where some of the Okada riders executive members addressed the gathering, which was close to 2000.