The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called on the Lagos State Government to immediately ban commercial motorcyclists (Okada riders), beggars, wheelbarrow pushers, and cart operators across the state, citing grave security threats from terrorists allegedly already present in the city.
In a video from a recent church gathering that has gone viral on social media, Primate Ayodele warned that terrorists are monitoring Lagos and could exploit unregulated Okada riders and other vulnerable groups to carry out attacks. He described the situation as a “security alert” for the state government.
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“Ban Okada in every area of the state. If you don’t ban Okada riders, they will injure Lagos State,” Ayodele stated.
He further urged authorities to ban wheelbarrow pushers and beggars to prevent their use in potential attacks, warning that failure to act could plunge Nigeria into disarray.
The cleric suggested the formation of a special task force to round up individuals “pretending to be mad” and recommended harsh penalties, including 30-year prison sentences for Okada riders involved in crimes, with exceptions only for official parcel delivery services.
He also claimed terrorists are currently unable to operate freely in Lagos but could launch major operations starting from Ogun State.
Primate Ayodele, known for his prophetic pronouncements on national issues, framed the bans as essential measures to calm tensions and safeguard Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub. His comments come amid ongoing debates over commercial motorcycle operations, which have previously faced restrictions in parts of the state, primarily for road safety and traffic reasons.
No official response from the Lagos State Government has been reported as of yet.