More than a thousand motorcycles have been seized by security operatives in Osun over the last 4 weeks of lockdown for trying to use the road when there should be no movement.
Hope of getting these bikes have been hanging with rumors that government might destroy them or sold them out, at will.
I think the punishment of 4 weeks should be enough. That is enough deterrent for me, especially in moments like this where feeding is hard. These are poor people locked at home trying to go somewhere to find may be they can get what to eat and not all are okada men.
I have a brother who got this bike on installment, sacrificed to pay up under 6 months to become his.
He hasn’t even started enjoying the bike when Corona started and he was heading to a friend’s house during lockdown to see if he can get money to eat, when police got his bike.
He couldn’t give them the usual 5,000 they get from many before the release (that’s how some police officers make money now). And the bike is with them like many others of unprivileged Nigerian – parked and impounded.
All efforts to get this brother’s own have been proven so difficult as everyone said the plate no has been sent to Osogbo and no one can release this bike. Or at worst government destroys it.
Subhanallahi, I never stopped imagining how Osun government through police will not return this bike again.
I just wish this doesn’t happen.
This is a young man who got a bike of 240k at 400k and has worked tirelessly to pay..
To eat has been so hard, even inside Ramadan. I only envy his spirit in faith.
I wish Osun government and NigPolice can temper justice with mercy for these poor Nigerians.
Keeping the bikes for a month is enough punishment to a young man struggling and many others.
This is why many commit suicide, when everything is frustrating.
The situation in Ile-Ife isn’t different from many other places across the state – from OSU town to Ilesha, to Oshogbo to Ikirun.
We are using this medium to plead with Osun government, and the state police unit, to help us release these motorcycles oo.
No palliatives, no food, don’t destroy the only other means of moving around to support families… Na beg we dey beg oo.
Transportation is the other good business here, please help us.
Lateef Eluyemi writes on behalf of all impounded bikes at police stations across Osun state during lockdown.
