The Amotekun Corps in Ondo State has begun a clampdown on unregistered commercial motorcyclists otherwise known as Okada riders in the state. 

The action followed the alarming rate at which passengers boarding commercial motorcyclists got missing in the state. 

Adetunji Adeleye, commander of the corps, who stated this in Akure, on Wednesday, decried the rampant cases of missing persons boarding bikes in the state. 

Mr Adeleye explained that the unregistered cyclists, who are in the habit of perpetrating the crime, now wear “hooded face masks”. 

“To further stem the tide of these latest tactics of kidnap, Okada riders with hooded faces, henceforth, are not allowed to operate in the state.

“All those covering their faces with masks and riding Okada are all members of the syndicate,” he said. 

According to him, many unsuspecting members of the public have fallen victim to the dastardly act. 

He later advised members of the public to ensure that the commercial motorcyclist they plan to board has a SITA registration number before getting the ride.

“As a consequence, we are working on breaking this syndicate and we need the public to stop boarding any Okada that does not wear SITA registration and without a commercial registration number plate.

“No Okada rider should carry any passenger unless such person has been debriefed, satisfied, and registered with SITA, otherwise they will be treated as members of the syndicate already arrested,” Mr Adeleye added.

While noting that the same treatment would be meted on taxi drivers, Mr Adeleye said any of the commercial drivers that refused to paint their cars in the state’s blue and yellow colour would not be allowed to ply the state roads. 

“Any taxi without a registration number is assumed to belong to that syndicate and we are tracking them down, but we want to warn members of the public not to board such Okada or taxi otherwise, they may end up being hypnotised and kidnapped.

“This ungodly act is more rampant during the day and this is more reason Amotekun Corps is warning members of the public to be careful,” he added.