Commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada riders, have embarked on one day fasting in Ikom Town, in Ikom LGA of Cross River State.
The one day fast is compulsory and seriously enforced by officials of the Okada Riders Association in the town.
Okada riders spoken to in Ikom Town said they usually hold the spiritual exercise once a week.
One of them, 40-year-old Maxwell Nsan, said the purpose of the fast is to unite them and avert untoward events like accidents and robbery attacks.
“The weekly fast is often strictly enforced. We will converge at a particular venue to pray while we fast. During this time no Okada riders is to be seen playing the road with passengers, else serious sanctions are applied against offenders,”he said.
Nsan testified that he has seen the effects of the weekly fast as he, including his colleagues, have hardly encountered serious negative incidents in the course of his work.
The DPO of Ikom Town, CSP Abdulrahman Lagbe and chairman of Ikom LGA, Pastor Mercy Nsor, confirmed the reduction in crimes in their jurisdiction owing to the grace of God.
The DPO spoke about safety in Ikom and that prayers can continue to help reduce crimes.
“I can tell you that crimes have reduced in Ikom but despite that your prayers will help us while we also intensify our approaches to stem crimes. As a Muslim, I know that without God and prayers you cannot succeed. Our responsibility is to provide security but it is God who secures us,” he said.
