Insecurity: Niger Council Profiles Okada Riders

The chairman of the Lapai Local Government Council of Niger, Abdullahi Umar-Evuti, has ordered the profiling of motorcycle riders in the area to tackle insecurity.

Mr Umar-Evuti said in Lapai on Tuesday that the decision was necessitated by the area’s growing population.

According to him, the security measure will ensure the safety of residents and students who rely on motorcycles, particularly in light of the establishment of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University in Lapai.

The chairman said there had been cases of criminals disguising themselves as motorcycle riders, adding that they had become security threats to genuine operators and residents.

“Profiling helps us identify genuine riders, reduce anonymity and support law enforcement in tackling crime. It also protects the riders themselves, as some criminals often disguise themselves as operators.

”Our intention is to deploy digital means to create a safer, more organised and trusted transport system for everyone,” he said.

Mr Umar-Evuti also said he had reintroduced weekly sanitation exercises in the local government area to check for disease outbreaks.

He explained that the decision followed a recent outbreak of gastroenteritis in the five communities of Dangana, Aliso, Sonfada, Eminuku and Saminaka.

The outbreak, he said, was between August and September 2025.

“At the time I assumed office in December 2025, the case file was on my table.

“This initiative is part of our commitment to public health and a cleaner environment. We believe a clean local government area directly improves the well-being of our people.

“Beyond cleanliness, it is also about restoring civic responsibility and preventing avoidable diseases,” he said.

Mr Umar-Evuti added that enforcement of the exercise was being carried out with the support of environmental officers, security agencies, and community actors, such as artisans, religious leaders, and the Emirate Council.

“Compliance has been encouraging so far. We are yet to begin imposing fines, as we are allowing residents time to adapt,” he said.

He added that the council’s focus for now was on awareness and building a lasting culture of cleanliness.

Mr Umar-Evuti, however, said his administration had begun discussions with the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency to introduce fines and sanctions for defaulters.