Police prohibit hoods, masks for okada riders over robbery, assault
Tamarauemi Ebimini
The Osun State Police Command, yesterday, banned commercial motorcyclists, also known as okada riders from covering their faces with hoods and facemasks during operations in the state.
The ban followed complaints of increasing robbery, sexual assault and other criminal activities allegedly carried out by the operators.
Spokesperson for the Command, Yemisi Opalola, advised members of the public to desist from boarding motorcyclists who wear hoods, nose masks or face masks, saying they hide under such materials to commit crime.
Opalola said the police would arrest and prosecute anyone found wanting in this regard.
She noted that crimes were always committed at night and that the culprits escape after the acts, because victims could not see their faces.
According to her, the force received several complaints of robbery and sexual assault from passengers in recent time, hence the warning against wearing of facemasks and hoods.
