The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Sunday said the crushing of impounded commercial motorcycles popularly known as “Okada” was in line with the provisions of the law.

The Head of Operations, DRTS, Mrs Deborah Osho made the clarification in an interview reporters in Abuja on Sunday, stressing that the ban was still in force, adding that part of the enforcement was to crush impounded okada within the confines of the law.

She said that the operators were allowed to operate freely in areas like Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Nyanya among other suburbs of the FCT, stressing that any okada impounded within the city would be crushed.

Osho added that the law provided two grounds for crushing impounded motorcycles, those impounded for constituting security threats, and those impounded with a Court forfeiture Order.

The official further explained that the ban became necessary following a public outcry that the Okada operators were constituting a menace in the city, noting that the motorcycles were used by criminals as means of quick getaway from crime scenes, and kidnappings in residential areas of the city.

“They were also used for many criminal activities including snatching valuables and mobile handset from unsuspecting passersby.

“This is in addition to the rising numbers of casualties from accidents involving Okada riders,” she said.

The head of operations said that security agencies had tagged the commercial motorcycles as constituting a security threat within the city and wanted them off the city routes.

On whether the operators were aware of the ban and the consequences when caught, Oshio said that riders were well sensitised even before the enforcement of the ban in 2006.

She added that security and government agencies equally held series of meetings with their leadership, reminding them of the ban and what could happen once an okada was impounded.

Osho advised residents against patronising Okada for their safety and those buying motorcycles for the riders to stop, saying “we will continue to crush them whenever we impound them.