Police have issued a stern warning to motorists and Okada drivers plying the busy Lagos-Ibadan expressway following insecurity and accidents always recorded on the route.
PoliticalNews reports that Ogun State Police Command, on Wednesday warned that motorists and motorcycle operators who take advantage of traffic jams to overtake other cars and motorcycles will be arrested by men of the command.
The Police Command said the warning became necessary following avoidable fatal accidents which are constantly recorded on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway as a result of the reckless overtaking by some drivers and motorcycle operators.
In a statement released by the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, police warned that the commissioner of police, Ogun has given a matching order to operatives to arrest such traffick offenders.
The statement read: “The Ogun state Police Command has observed with dismay the rate at which motorists and motorcyclists are driving against traffic whenever there is little traffic jam on any of our highways, most especially on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“This indiscipline and barbaric attitude have led to many avoidable road traffic accidents and the resultant loss of innocent lives. The most recent one is the accident that happened in Obada Oko area, where a tipper driving against traffic crushed three innocent people to death in a taxi.
“Also, the attitude of those reckless drivers is making things difficult along Lagos/Ibadan expressway, where construction work is currently going on.”
The statement further added, “In view of this, the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has directed DPOs, Area commanders and traffic officers across the state to go all out for those recalcitrant drivers who are in the habit of driving against traffic, otherwise known as one-way drive, with the view to arrest and deal with them in the most decisive manner.
“Henceforth, anybody caught driving against traffic will have his/her vehicle impounded and such driver will be diligently prosecuted.
“The Command hereby with this release warns the general public to desist from driving against traffic anywhere in Ogun state, as anyone caught in such act will have him/herself to blame, no matter the status of such person.”