By MUFTAU OGUNYEMI

The Ondo State Government says it has banned the operation of commercial motorcyclists (Okada) from 7 p.m. till 6a.m due to the level of insecurity in the state.

Mr Adetunji Adeleye, Commander, Ondo State Security Network Agency, Amotekun Corps, said this on Wednesday in Akure while parading 70 suspects for various offences.

Adeleye explained that the restriction was to checkmate the nefarious activities of kidnappers, armed robbers, and criminals which had been affecting the state in recent times.

According to him, the restriction has been enforced before, but it is now reinforced that there will be a total ban on the use of Okada within Ondo State from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Adeleye, who said that the ban took immediately effect, said that all commercial motorcyclists had two weeks to freely register and collect certified documents of eligibility before they could ride within the state.

“After two weeks, they will be made to pay N20,000 to the Board of Internal Revenue for registration. We want all Okada in the state properly documented.

“In the same vein, cart-pushing in major metropolises is banned.

“Mandatory registration of dealers and regulation of activities of scrap metal is going to be enforced, and prohibition of display of farm produce in unauthorised places.

“If you look around the town now, you find out people making makeshift markets at junctions, where they put tomato, onions, and other produce.

“These places are being used as monitoring points of the metropolis, and this has been uncovered by the intelligence section of the security agencies,” the commander said.

Adeleye also explained that 39 of the 70 suspects were caught for breaking the law and order, 18 for kidnap, one for anti-grazing, one for human trafficking, and 11 for cult-related cases. (NAN)