A raid by operatives of the Lagos State Task Force in the Idimu area of Lagos on Wednesday turned chaotic, leaving a female commuter, Folashade, and her two children injured.
Eyewitnesses reported that task force officials stormed the Powerline area around 10 a.m., targeting motorcycle riders.
The raid caused panic as riders fled the scene, leading to a series of reckless escapes.
Folashade, recounting her ordeal, said she was on her way to work with her two sons when the incident occurred.
“We were heading towards the Council bus stop when other riders started shouting Task Force!
Our rider suddenly increased his speed and veered into a mechanic workshop to avoid arrest. I fell off the bike, injuring my legs and hands, while my kids clung to him as he rode off without stopping. It was mechanics nearby who rescued them,” she explained.
Folashade, visibly shaken, received first aid from Good Samaritans as bystanders condemned the reckless actions of both the task force and fleeing riders.
Witnesses expressed frustration over frequent raids in areas not listed as restricted for motorcycles.
“They carried out a similar raid yesterday, and the chaos they create puts lives at risk. This could have been fatal if not for God’s intervention,” one resident lamented.
The raid comes amid increasing tensions between authorities and motorcycle operators in Lagos.
On Tuesday, a clash erupted in the Isheri area when motorcycle riders resisted officers from the Idimu Police Station attempting to seize their bikes, resulting in widespread apprehension.
Efforts to reach the task force spokesperson, Raheem Gbadeyan, for a comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
Residents and commuters in Lagos have repeatedly called for a review of enforcement methods, citing the dangers posed by sudden raids and the need for a more structured approach to tackling illegal activities by motorcycle operators.
