Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has arrested three suspects impersonating Oshodi-Isolo Local Government traffic officers and extorting money from motorists in Oshodi.
Speaking on the arrest, the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye said the suspects, who claimed they were officials of Oshodi-Isolo LGA, were arrested after several complaints by some of their victims.
“I have received a lot of complaints and we have taken time to analyse them. We made our findings too before the arrest. Lagos State Government would not tolerate any criminal activity under any guise”, he stated.
While listing the names of the arrested suspects as Samuel Oyegbule (52), Olayiwola Thomas (53) and Kola Taiwo (47), Jejeloye said the culprits had on Tuesday extorted N25,000 from one of their victims for obstruction, just as another victim equally alleged that he was extorted of the same amount the previous day.
The Taskforce Chairman said the first victim’s statement read: “They walked up to my vehicle while waiting for the traffic light on Oyetayo Street to turn green, knocked on my side glass and informed me that I have committed a traffic offence. They then forced me to Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Secretariat, Oshodi, where I was made to cough up N25,000 as fine”.
“They also brought into the same place several other vehicles arrested in the same manner as mine and they were made to pay as well. Some of them were made to pay a higher amount”.
Giving an account of the report by another individual extorted by the accused persons, Jejeloye said, “The second victim, a bolt driver was arrested for dropping a client in front of his house in the inner street of Oshodi, which was not a major road or Expressway or where there are bus stops. They refused to listen to his explanation. They fined him N25,000”.
The victims, according to CSP Jejeloye, also alleged that the suspects select vehicles they believed could pay the requested amount before arresting them on trumped-up charges and forcing them to the Local Government Headquarters to make payment.
While warning all dubious minded individuals and persons who illegally issue tickets to motorists on public roads and streets to desist or face the wrath of the law, CSP Jejeloye noted that the task force would continue to arrest criminals impersonating council officials to extort road users and vehicle owners in the State.
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