In his bid to nip crimes and violence in the bud across Oyo State, the state Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams has held security meeting with motorcycle operators under the aegis of both Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN) and Park Management System (PMS).
Addressing the two factions of motorcycle operators, the CP sternly warned that there will be no room for violence, stressing that some motorcycle operators joined bad gang and operating under the cover of being a motorcycle operator.
He assured that the police are playing her roles and will continue to do so, charging both ACOMORAN and PMS to call their people to order. He also admonished them not to cover bad eggs among them as doing so will send wrong signals to the public and present both PMS and ACOMORAN as accomplices.
He also reiterated that the meeting with the two factions is to broker peace between them and the police in order to ensure smooth working relationships and mutual understanding amongst the trio of police, ACOMORAN and PMS.
He used the opportunity to urge them to ensure that their motorcycles have updated documents for their own good, stressing that it is only through their documents that police would help them recover it in case of theft.
Adebowale explained that part of the objectives of the meeting was to strengthen mutual relationship and cooperation between the police and commercial motorcycle operators popularly called “Okada Riders” and create a platform for trust that would assist in fishing out unscrupulous elements among them.
“We’ve had separate and joint meetings with both ACOMORAN and PMS and we’ve resolved their misunderstanding to a large extent. As far as the two groups are concerned, they have good understanding but now they have to talk to their boys.” The CP stated.
In his reaction the chairman of Oyo state ACOMORAN, Mr. Solomon Olugbode expressed assurance that they were ready to work with the police and Oyo state government for public safety while arguing that most motorcycle riders posing security threats are actually not members of their association.
He however lamented that most times when there is a road accident, people especially the media blame motorcycle and tricycle operators without finding out the real causes and culprits. He stated that his members are only blackmailed because they are the closest to the grassroot of all transport operators.
Olugbode also assured that ACOMORAN would always follow due process and report to the appropriate authorities if there is any issue to be addressed, adding that his members will not be part of any street violence. He also urged his members to always expose bad eggs so as to avoid being treated as accomplices when they are arrested and investigated.
Other top ranking police officers and some elder statesmen at the meeting also enjoined both ACOMORAN and PMS to drive safely on the road and ensure peace across the state.
Highlight of the meeting was a question and answer session between the police command hierarchy and members of the commercial motorcycle operators to create an atmosphere that the police is their friends.