LAGOS — The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a stark security advisory to the Lagos State government, calling for a comprehensive ban on commercial motorcyclists widely known as Okada as well as street beggars and cart pushers.
In a video statement circulated on social media, the clergyman asserted that intelligence at his disposal suggests that terrorists have already infiltrated Lagos and are currently waiting for the opportune moment to strike. He identified the city's informal transport sector as a potential tool for these criminal elements, arguing that terrorists favor motorcycles for their ability to navigate traffic and reach locations inaccessible to larger motor vehicles.
Primate Ayodele urged the state government to take a hardline approach, recommending that any Okada operator found violating a proposed ban should be apprehended and sentenced to 30 years in prison. He made a distinction, however, for registered courier services, stating that authorized parcel delivery riders should be exempted from such punitive measures.
Beyond transport regulation, the cleric called for a broader crackdown on street-level operations. He advised the state authorities to clear the streets of beggars and cart pushers, while also advocating for the removal of individuals who feign mental illness, citing them as potential security liabilities. According to Ayodele, these groups could be exploited to compromise the stability of the state, potentially throwing the entire country into disarray.
While the cleric acknowledged that there are no active terror operations in Lagos at this specific time, he cautioned that the situation in neighboring Ogun State serves as a precursor to regional insecurity. He framed these recommendations as proactive warnings designed to help the government mitigate rising tensions and prevent the infiltration of hostile actors into the nation’s commercial hub.
The Lagos State government has historically maintained a policy of restricting Okada operations in various local government areas to curb crime and traffic congestion. Primate Ayodele’s latest intervention adds to the ongoing public discourse surrounding security in the state, reflecting a broader anxiety among stakeholders regarding the protection of urban centers against unconventional security threats.
