Oyo Governor bans night okada rides after school abductions

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has signed an executive order imposing a statewide nighttime ban on commercial motorcycle operations as part of a broader security crackdown following the abduction of teachers and schoolchildren last month. The order, signed on Friday, prohibits commercial motorcycles, known locally as okada, from operating between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

The governor said the measure is a direct response to heightened security concerns, particularly the ongoing captivity of victims kidnapped from schools in Oriire Local Government Area over 20 days ago. He stated that unregistered vehicles and motorcycles have increasingly been used to facilitate criminal activities, complicating investigations. The executive order provides a legal framework for stricter enforcement of vehicle registration and traffic laws, with authorities empowered to arrest offenders and impound vehicles.

Governor Makinde directly linked the new policies to the abduction incident, which occurred on May 15 when armed men attacked three schools. While the exact number of victims varies in reports, officials have confirmed that scores of pupils and teachers were taken. The crisis deepened...