Okada ban: Sanwo-Olu arrests soldier over violation of traffic law

Okada ban: Sanwo-Olu arrests soldier over violation of traffic law

A soldier riding a motorcycle against traffic, otherwise called “One-Way,” along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway was yesterday arrested by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State.

The governor in a video that went viral on social media was seen ordering some armed policemen to apprehend and whisk the soldier, a Lance Corporal, into one of the vehicles in his convoy.
Sanwo-Olu was said to have visited the Lagos State University, Ojo, for the unveiling of the Femi Gbajabiamila Conference Centre.

On sighting his convoy, some commercial motorcyclists driving against traffic abandoned their motorbikes and escaped, including their passengers, to avoid being arrested by the security agents in the convoy.

But one of them, later discovered to be a soldier, was alleged to have kept moving, consequent upon which he was arrested.

The soldier, whose identity could not be ascertained, was heard in the video saying: “I am a soldier.”

The statement infuriated the governor, who was heard ordering the police escorts: “Put him there. You’re telling me you are a soldier; that is the reason I’m going to lock you up.”

However, on realising it was the governor, the soldier was heard apologizing. He said: “I am sorry sir,“ twice. But the armed men whisked him into one of the vehicles.

Thereafter, the governor turned to the passengers who were on the soldier’s motorbike and said: “You people are the ones causing this. Maybe I should arrest two of you and put you in the guardroom.

“You’re on Okada and they are taking one-way. Is it good? When you fall and you die, they’ll say the government killed you. What a shame.”