Some commercial motorcycle (Okada) operators in Calabar, Cross River State, at the weekend took the law into their hands as they attacked and destroyed some of the taxi cabs provided by the state government for the public.
The motorcyclists, who were recently banned from operating in the capital, had relocated to the nearby Akpabuyo Local Council where they now operate. They, however, launched an attack on the operators of the newly acquired cars introduced by the state government to cushion the effect of the ban on the Okada riders.
In Calabar South Local Council, there was an uneasy calm as the Okada men, armed with dangerous weapons such as stones, bottles, rods, sticks, and other objects moved in groups to destroy private and public property, including the new cabs.
The motorcylists said they were protesting the ban on their operations by the government, which state officials said came as a result of a high level of crime allegedly perpetrated by the Okada riders in the city. The motorcyclists were alleged to have, on several occasions, snatched phones and handbags as well as acted as informant to armed-robbers and other criminals. The state government has often said the activities of the operators, apart from constituting a nuisance to its tourism drive, also lead to avoidable accidents.
But the motorcyclists dispute this, saying there are criminals in every profession and government should not punish them for the sins of a few.
The rampage caused by the violent demonstration, made the government to deploy anti-riot policemen and soldiers to the streets of Calabar. Security officials said some arrests have been made, even as the search for the ring leaders is on.
Total ban on motorcycles
The government also reversed the earlier concession given to private motorcycle owners who were to register their bike for ₦500 each with the motorcycle regulatory agency to ply the routes of Calabar. The state government has now declared a total ban on motorcycles in the metropolis.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Edet Okon Asim, conveyed the ban in a statement. "This is to inform all private motorcycle operators that the government is reversing the earlier directives given to motorcycle regulatory agency to register private bike owners," he said. "This is because the kind gesture of government is being abused. The new directive is that no bike is permitted to ply the streets of Calabar Metropolis. Please be warned," he stated.
Interestingly, the state government recently provided 500 motorcycles to its junior civil servants to enable them go to work on time. Government was deducting the money for the motocycles on a monthly basis.
The ban has also brought hardship to most residents of Calabar, who have resorted to trekking since November 22, 2009 that the ban took effect. There are not enough taxi cabs and buses to convey people to and from their destinations.
The state government had before now promised to provide 200 taxi cabs and 50 buses, in the first phase, to be operated by the motorcyclists. Unfortunately, only half of the numbers has been supplied. But the cyclists allege that four of them are made to jointly operate a taxi while 10 are allocated to a bus, an arrangement they say they are not satisfied with.
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