OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
Eyewitnesses and officials of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) have defended their actions following allegations made in a viral TikTok video by one of two female passengers involved in a motorcycle traffic enforcement incident at the Iwe-Irohin/Zone 2 axis of Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
According to an eyewitness account at the scene said the passengers became confrontational, verbally attacking the operatives, hurling insults and recording videos intended to portray the officials negatively on social media.
Another eyewitness, who identified himself as a trader operating within the Oke-Ilewo area, said the officials acted professionally throughout the encounter and did not assault or harass anyone.
“The rider clearly committed offences. Everybody there saw that he carried two passengers and was not wearing a helmet. The TRACE officers only did their work. There was no beating or attempt to extort anybody as claimed in the video,” the eyewitness said.
Another passerby stated that the commotion started only after the motorcycle was taken away for official processing.
“The ladies were angry because the bike was impounded, but the officers remained calm despite the insults and shouting. People should understand that traffic rules are meant to save lives,” the witness added.
Observers have also pointed out that the viral video itself inadvertently validates the justification for the arrest, as one of the female passengers was heard admitting during the recording that the motorcycle was stopped because it carried two passengers which is a clear traffic violation under existing transportation safety regulations.
An incident report made available by officials involved in the operation, the motorcycle rider was apprehended on Friday, May 7, 2026, at about 1:00 p.m. for multiple traffic violations, including riding without a crash helmet and unlawfully carrying two passengers on a commercial motorcycle, contrary to established traffic safety regulations.
The enforcement exercise was reportedly carried out by TRACE operatives around Iwe-Irohin-Zone 2 axis of Oke-Ilewo, during routine traffic monitoring aimed at improving road safety and reducing avoidable accidents on Ogun roads.
The officials explained that the rider was stopped in line with standard operational procedures and subsequently taken to the Divisional TRACE Command in Abeokuta for documentation, profiling and counselling measures routinely adopted by the agency in handling traffic offenders, particularly repeat violators and recalcitrant road users.
However, the situation allegedly became tense when the two female passengers realised that the motorcycle had been moved to the TRACE office.
Road safety advocates insist that the infractions committed by the rider were not minor offences but dangerous acts capable of resulting in fatal consequences.
Cdr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, the PRO of the Agency, said, commercial motorcycles, commonly known as “okada,” are designed to carry only one passenger at a time in addition to the rider.
“Carrying multiple passengers alters the balance and stability of the motorcycle, especially on congested urban roads, increasing the risk of crashes, loss of control and severe injuries.” He added.
Experts further note that failure to wear crash helmets significantly raises the chances of death or permanent head injuries in the event of an accident.
Studies globally have shown that helmets remain one of the most effective safety devices for reducing fatalities among motorcycle riders and passengers.
Traffic enforcement stakeholders argue that agencies such as TRACE are often unfairly criticised whenever they attempt to enforce safety regulations, despite the alarming rate of motorcycle-related accidents across the country.
They maintained that allowing riders to violate safety rules unchecked would amount to negligence on the part of enforcement authorities entrusted with protecting lives and maintaining order on public roads.
Analysts also warned against the growing trend of using selectively edited social media videos to whip up public sentiment against law enforcement officers without presenting the full context of incidents.
According to them, while citizens have the right to question government actions, there is also a responsibility to respect constituted authorities and avoid obstructing officials carrying out lawful duties.
They stressed that traffic regulations are not designed to punish citizens but to correct them and ensure public safety,as well as, prevent avoidable tragedies on the roads.
TRACE officials, meanwhile, reiterated their commitment to professional, humane and lawful enforcement of traffic regulations across Ogun State, urging members of the public to cooperate with officers and comply with safety rules for the collective good of all road users.
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