Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has arrested three suspects posing as Local Government Traffic officers for extorting motorists in Oshodi.
The suspects, who claimed they are working with Oshodi – Isolo Local Government, Oshodi, were apprehended on the orders of CSP Shola Jejeloye, Chairman, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, after receiving complaints from some of the victims.
The arrested suspects, are, Samuel Oyegbule (52), Olayiwola Thomas (53) and Kola Taiwo (47).
A victim said, one of the suspect had extorted N25,000, from him the previous day, while another claimed he suffered similar fate the previous day.
According to the first victim who does not want his name mentioned in the press, ‘They walked up to my vehicle while waiting for traffic light in Oyetayo Street, they knocked at my side glass and I wound down to listen to them. They said I have committed a traffic offence and I was forced to Oshodi – Isolo Local Government Secretariat, Oshodi, where I was made to cough up N25,000 as fine”.
The second victim, a bolt driver, said “I was arrested for dropping my client in front of his house in the inner street of Oshodi. It wasn’t a major road or expressway or where there are bus stops. They refused to listen to my explanation. They fined me N25,000.
The victims alleged that the suspects select vehicles they know can pay their charges before arresting them with trumped up charges and forcing them to the Local Government headquarters to make payment.
“They also brought in several other vehicles arrested in the same manner like mine and were made to pay the same amount as mine, while others pay higher sums”, one of the victims added.
