By Fawaz Adebisi
The Osun State police have warned commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as okada riders, to stop using facemasks and hoods while operating in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, , gave this warning in a press statement in Osogbo, on Monday.
According to her, some motorcyclists wore hoods to conceal their identities by covering their nose with facemasks with intent to commit crimes such as robbery and rape.
She said, “This stern warning becomes imperative due to series of reports received by the police command that criminal minded bike riders uses hood with intent to commit crimes.”
She therefore urged residents not to board motorcycles with hooded riders.
“Members of the public are advised not to board or engage the service of any commercial motorcyclist with hood/facemasks while working,” she stressed.
In the same vein, she called on the leadership of bike riders associations in the state to caution their members against covering their heads and faces in any form while riding their motorcycles.
She therefore added that the command has mapped-out strategies to arrest and prosecute anyone that violates the ban.
