It was gathered that the motorcycles, whose riders plied the Iyana-Ipaja, Abule-Egba, Fagba and Ogba areas of the state, were impounded after several warnings issued to the riders to desist from operating on restricted routes.

The new Chairman of the agency, Shola Jejeloye, who led the enforcement team, stated that enforcement followed a series of complaints received from the public on illegal and criminal activities perpetrated by motorcyclists.

“While some of them harass innocent members of the public at various bus stops, others engage in all sorts of criminal acts by dispossessing their passengers of valuables such as phones, jewellery and bags. Also, motorists held in traffic both morning and night around these areas were not spared.

“A total clampdown on illegal activities of these motorcycle operators on restricted routes will now be vigorously sustained on a daily basis throughout this Yuletide season to check criminal activities perpetrated by these notorious motorcyclists,” he said.

The chairman, who urged the various motorcyclist associations to educate their members on the need to desist from plying restricted routes in the state, warned all dispatched riders to also desist from engaging in illegal activities.

Jejeloye added that anyone caught violating the state traffic laws would be prosecuted.

At its first patrol, the new operation codenamed ‘Anti-Oneway and Other Traffic Offenders Squad’ on Monday, combed the Ikeja, Ojota, and Maryland areas of the state.

During the operation, commercial motorcyclists who defied the state’s traffic restriction order were arrested and their motorcycles confiscated.

The team which was headed by the Superintendent of Police, Shola Jejeloye, explained that the operation was set up to complement the activities of the existing Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Agency (Task Force) being led by Yinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

“We have been mandated by the Commissioner of Police to stop acts of indiscipline by some motorists who are in the habit of flouting traffic regulations of Lagos State,” said Jejeloye who is the commander of policemen in the Governor’s Monitoring Team (GMT).

“We will discharge this duty without fear or favour, and our activities will be professionally exercised in line with the mandate of the team. I, therefore, urge motorists to obey the traffic laws and be patient when driving on the roads.

“We will not be lenient on motorists that are in the habit of committing traffic offences. Offenders arrested will be prosecuted and have their vehicles confiscated,” he added.

It was gathered that officials of the task force had arrived at the bus stop to impound Okadas when the crash occurred.

Eyewitnesses narrated that the Okada riders resisted the officials of the task force from impounding their motorcycles.

In a bid to express their displeasures, the Okada riders set bonfires on the expressway, leading to gridlock.