Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has issued a security warning to the Lagos State Government urging an immediate and total ban on the operations of commercial motorcyclists popularly known as Okada as a critical measure to prevent a potential terrorist attack in the state. The influential cleric further called for the apprehension of riders engaged in nefarious activities and their sentencing to 30 years imprisonment, warning that terrorists are currently lurking in Lagos and prefer to use Okada to carry out their plans.
In a video message addressed to his members on Sunday, June 7, 2026, Primate Ayodele declared that the state government must act decisively to forestall a looming disaster. He argued that criminals cannot easily use four-wheel vehicles for such operations and have resorted to using motorcycles, making Okada operators a significant security threat. “Security alert for Lagos State government, ban Okada in every area of the state. If you don’t ban Okada riders, they will injure Lagos State,” Primate Ayodele warned. “If they attack Lagos, Nigeria will be thrown into disarray but these are warnings. Ban Okada now because if they want to do anything bad, they do it on Okada as they can’t use a vehicle,” he added.
Primate Ayodele’s proposal included a severe deterrent for those who flout the ban. He suggested that any arrested rider should be sentenced to three decades behind bars. “If they arrest any Okada rider, they should be sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, except if it’s official riders like those carrying parcels,” the cleric advised. He also called for the establishment of a special task force to enforce the proposed restrictions and maintain the ban across every part of the state, including rural areas. Ayodele expanded his security concerns beyond commercial motorcyclists, urging the government to also crack down on wheelbarrow pushers, street beggars, cart pushers, scrap metal collectors, and people pretending to be mentally ill. “All these Almajiris and beggars or those people pushing carts, stop them; if you don’t do it, they are suicidal and would shake Lagos State,” he warned.
The cleric’s stark prophecy also included a warning that while terrorists are present in Lagos, their activities might initially manifest in a neighbouring state. “There are terrorists in Lagos ooo but they will not start now, you will see they will start in Ogun State in a big way,” he said. His comments quickly ignited intense debate across social media platforms, drawing sharply divided reactions from Nigerians. Some supported the proposition, arguing that the disenfranchised individuals and Okada riders have become a security menace and enablers of crime in a megacity. Caterefe Hub NG posted a response endorsing the ban, stating, “These daily nuisances have become security threats, traffic terrorists, and criminal enablers… A serious government protects its citizens, not pampers lawlessness. Ban them now.”
However, a significant number of critics argued that the approach is draconian and fails to address the root causes of crime, such as mass unemployment and crushing poverty. Concerns were raised that criminalising entire groups without providing social safety nets would exacerbate the crisis rather than solve it. "They should create job opportunities because banning them won’t put food on their table," another concerned user argued. Others reasoned that while a tough stance on security is necessary, the government must simultaneously implement social programmes to offer alternative livelihoods for the millions who depend on such trades for survival.
As of this report, the Lagos State Government had not issued an official response to the cleric’s demands. While the state has previously imposed a ban on Okada operations in specific local government areas like Ikeja, Lagos Island, Surulere, and parts of Eti-Osa, a total statewide ban on the motorcycle taxis, which serve as a primary mode of transport for millions of Lagos residents, has remained a highly controversial and politically risky proposal. As the state continues to face complex urban security challenges, the call from Primate Ayodele has reignited a fierce policy debate over civil liberties, public safety, and the economic rights of the urban poor.
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