The Delta State government, in its determination to reduce crime rates in the state, has banned commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada.
Apart from Asaba, the state capital, other areas where the ban is effective include Oshimili South and North, Sapele, Ika, and Uvwie local government areas.
Briefing journalists on Thursday after the weekly state executive meeting in Asaba, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Kingsley Emu, said the objective of the ban was to prevent security challenges in the state.
Emu, who noted that the law has been in existence since 2012 but has not been implemented, said: “It is to save lives and property. People have been raped. They vandalise transformers and cables and make residents restless.”
According to him, anyone who violates the ban will be arrested, his motorcycle will be seized and destroyed and he will be made to face a mobile court.
While threatening to deal ruthlessly with violators, he said the move was not to victimise other tribes or encourage division. The ban, according to him, was deliberately extended to cover other areas and does not affect transport unions.
“There are security men on ground to effect violation. Even Oshimili South and North local government areas have come out with their by-laws to ban scrap metal scavengers,” Dr Emu said.