- Safiu Kehinde
The Motorcycle Operators Union of Nigeria (MOUN), Lagos State Branch, has, on Thursday, condemned recent attack on a police team in Agege area of the state while denying involvement in the killing of one of the officers.
This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the union’s secretary, Raji Rasak.
According to him, MOUN cannot take responsibility for the attack.
“MOUN, nevertheless, equivocally condemns the attack and the resultant loss of life .
“As a responsible new union being entrenched in Lagos State, MOUN is totally opposed to resorting to self-help, mob action and jungle justice in seeking to redress real or perceived wrongs.
“MOUN is aware that in a motor or motorcycle traffic accident leading to occurrence of injury or death or damage to property, an involved motorcyclist could be the negligent or reckless party.
“And so, regardless of the party that suffers injury or loss of life in the accident, spontaneous vengeful attack should not be the next action.
“The logical next action should be provision of immediate medical attention to those who may be injured at the scene of the accident, cooperating with intervening police officers to maintain peace, law, and order.
“Our immediate actions should also be to work with law enforcement to bring about investigation so that justice could be served in the circumstances.”
According to reports, the attack on the Police team followed the death of a commercial motorcyclist in an accident involving his motorcycle and a truck at WEMPCO Junction, Mobil Road, Agege, on Oct. 19.
The security operatives drafted to prevent chaos at the scene came under heavy attack by a mob of commercial motorcyclists, leading to the death of the officer.
Rasak, however, claimed that the motorcyclists who allegedly perpetrated the fatal attack on the police team and killed police officer were not registered members of MOUN.
According to him, MOUN, in its current engagement with the Lagos State Government, is emphasizing collaboration and self-regulation through unionization.
He said that self-regulation, through unionization, would curb such occurrence.
“MOUN believes that once the Lagos State Government finalizes the ongoing MOUN’s certification for operation in Lagos State, MOUN will be strengthened to comprehensively register its members operating in the state.
“It shall provide and operate a digital register of its members, document its members and weed off undocumented foreigners who are operating motorcycles in the state.
“This can be achieved through collaboration with the Immigration Service, regulation of members effectively and re-orientating them,” he said.
He said that the union was committed to ensuring that recurring problem of motorcyclists massing up at scenes of accidents for purpose of wild commiseration, fighting and avenging perceived wrongs done to members was stopped.
“MOUN regrets the loss of lives involved in this incident, commiserates with the family of the senior police officer who lost his life.
“We condole with the Nigeria Police Force for losing the officer in the line of duty,” Rasak said.
He said that MOUN would pay a condolence visit to the Commissioner of Police in tbe state , in due course.