The Ondo government has read a riot act to the people of the state, especially to cyclists also known as Okada riders, who always engaged in the criminal acts of “jungle justice”. 

Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo Deputy-Governor, gave the warning on Wednesday, at an emergency meeting with the leaders and members of the commercial motorcyclists in Akure, the state capital. 

Mr Aiyedatiwa was speaking on the recent violent killing of the 25-year-old driver, Temitope Olorunfemi, who was involved in a fatal accident in the Ijoka Area of Akure. 

“Next time that such happens and you are gathering to start problems all of you present will first be arrested and taken to the prison before trial. 

“So, go and repent and change your ways, we are all one. Don’t kill anyone when accidents happen. Let’s always sympathise and take victims to the hospital for medical attention,” Mr Aiyedatiwa, who is also acting as the governor, admonished at the meeting. 

On Easter Monday, an angry mob lynched Mr Olorunfemi to death after he hit a commercial motorcyclist to death in a motor accident. His Toyota Camry car was also set ablaze.

Peoples Gazette reported that the mob had alleged him as an internet fraudster “Yahoo boy” who deliberately killed the motorcyclist for ritual purposes.

The incident sparked multiple reactions on social media as video clips of the brutal attack and lynching of the deceased by the mob went viral. 

Positing further, Mr Aiyedatiwa who led other top government functionaries to the meeting particularly described the mob action on Mr Olorunfemi as “barbaric and inhumane.”

He stressed that the Ondo government was unhappy with the mob action allegedly perpetrated by the Okada riders.

He said that it was high time the cyclists in the state desist from taking laws into their hands and learn to have faith in all the security agencies. 

“There is dignity in labour and you must be proud of all you are doing, don’t always assume that other road users are your enemies.

“Again, today is to just come and warn you. we had warned you earlier that we don’t want to break law and order. You must trust the law and believe in the government. 

“Most of you are big men that have trained children with this work (okada riders) but why would you assume that those in the car are richer than you?” He queried. 

The acting governor, however, directed all the leaders of the cyclists association present at the meeting to immediately pay a condolence visit to the family members of the casualties. 

Tobi Ogunleye, Special Adviser to the state government on Transport, described the action of the motorcyclists as unfair. 

Mr Ogunleye said the Ondo government won’t hesitate to clamp down on any erring cyclists if the criminal action persists. 

On his part, the Special Adviser on Special Duty and Strategy to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Doyin Odebowale, reiterated that those that perpetrated the killing of Mr Olorunfemi have been arrested by the police. 

“But let me also state that the government will not sit and watch any further breakdown of law and order,” Mr Odebowale added. 

Remarking, Isaac Sico, Ondo Coordinator of the cyclists in the state said the leadership of the association has begun to identify the “bad eggs” among them. 

“Not all Okada riders are troublemakers. But, sir, we have been identifying the few bad eggs who are giving us a bad name,” he added. 

On Monday, The Gazette reported that the Ondo police paraded four “principal suspects” in connection with the killing of Mr Olorunfemi.

Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, the police spokesperson in the state, who paraded them before journalists in Akure, also said the suspects would be charged with murder and arson in court.