The authorities of the Bonny Local Government have banned any further influx of commercial motorcycles, popularly called Okada and Keke Napep, respectively, into the area with immediate effect.

Chairman of Bonny Local Government Area, David Irimagha issued the ban today during a meeting with heads of security agencies, commercial motorcycle, tricycle, boat, and other transport unions, in his office in Bonny.

A statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Williams Ogbah Agwu disclosed that the Bonny LG Chairman stated the deteriorating security situation in the area has necessitated the ban.

Clarifying that the ban was without prejudice to the right of citizens to free movement and pursuit of their individual wellbeing, Irimagha urged both indigenes and residents to cooperate with the security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the community.

“I know that there is freedom of association but because of security of lives and properties and from what we are experiencing and my own personal experiences in this island, let this union end at this level. I am talking about the Okada now.”

There have increasing concern from stakeholders in the area over the influx of commercial motorcycles and tricycles and operators into the community. The situation worsened with the recent ban of Okada ban by the Lagos State Government which forced many of the operators into other parts of the country including Bonny LGA.

The Bonny LG boss warned against any attempt to sabotage the ban, declaring that defaulters of the ban would be decisively dealt with, stressing that the ban had become necessary due to the security threats posed by the incessant influx of an increasing number of motorcycles and tricycles into the area.

“What I am saying is a direct message and I don’t want a situation where what I have said here would either be looked down upon or sabotaged. We will react immediately because what we are observing now is no longer funny.”

He called on the people of the area to support the security agencies by providing them with relevant and timely information to enable them deal with emerging threats before they escalate to unmanageable levels.

“If we want the security agencies to help us do their work very well, we should also help in comporting ourselves. If we make their jobs very cumbersome, of course, they are humans like us, they can’t be everywhere. So, if we want them to be everywhere, one, we need information, two, we need you to do the right thing all the time.”  

He declared that those who undermine the security situation in the area do not mean well for the people and the community, adding that “we need you to adhere to the instruction and directives of the leaders of this LGA, else, it means you don’t want to stay peacefully with us here in Bonny Local Government”.   

Checks by Kristina Reports around Bonny LGA revealed a steady rise in the number of non-natives, especially, from the northern parts of the country, and Okada and Keke Napep operators in the area.

Areas such as the Amaomu Junction, Onwokiri (Sandfilled) Community, General Kurubo Street, Aye Road, Finima Road (around waterworks area), among others are currently flooded with people of northern extraction, among others, and many of them unprofiled, thus posing a security risk to the area.

Late last year, two middle-aged men, were arrested by the Police in Bonny for being part of a kidnap syndicate in Taraba State but were hiding in Bonny. This is one of many instances of the challenges being faced by security agencies in the area.