Oshiomhole Bans Okada In Benin Over Kidnappings

The Edo State Government has banned the use of commercial motorcycle popularly called Okada in Benin City with effect from next Monday.

The Governor, who announced the ban to newsmen on Tuesday afternoon after the weekly security meeting, said the ban is limited to the three local Government areas which make up Benin City including Ikpoba Okha, Oredo and Egor Local Government Areas.

Governor Oshiomhole said it is now increasingly evident that many of the kidnappers in the state are Okada riders.

He said that the state has become a haven for criminals and other Okada riders who migrated to Edo State following similar ban in other states.

The Governor appealed to the Okada riders to bear with the government as they were compelled to make this decision.

The Governor also said that the security agencies have resolved to commence random checks of the private security personnel employed by residents in the state to determine if they are Nigerians and have valid papers to reside here as it has been discovered that they have largely been the informants in cases of kidnapping.

He advised residents of the state to properly scrutinize those they employ as helps and security personnel