Again, Lagos Taskforce apprehends fake officials in Oshodi

CITIZENS COMPASS—The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) on Wednesday, said it has apprehended two suspected impersonators, Paul Anthony, 42 years and Mukaila Adepo, 31 years, for impersonating Taskforce officials and unlawfully extorting motorists at Oshodi and other areas of the State.

The duo whose residence are listed as Eniola Adesanya and Titilayo streets in Mafoluku and Oshodi respectively were arrested at Oshodi Bus Stop along Bolade inward Oshodi-Iyana Ipaja Expressway where the members of the syndicate are known for their notorious activities of terrorizing motorists by falsely accusing them of traffic offences such as driving one-way and other related infractions, under the guise of being Taskforce operatives.

The suspects were apprehended by plain clothed officers of the Agency on patrol during the impostors’ illegal activities, which has been dragging the name of the State Taskforce in the mud.

Investigations and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the illegal traffic enforcement gangs in the State.

Reacting to the arrest, the Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, vowed to go hard and prosecute all impostors dragging the name of the agency in the mud and warned that individuals involved in impersonation or illegal traffic enforcement should be ready to face prosecution in the court of competent jurisdiction ”

“In this dispensation, the Lagos State Taskforce is committed to making the metropolis uninhabitable for environmental and criminally minded detractors. We are determined to restore sanity and public trust by ridding the Highways of fake officials and individuals that are out to cause pain to motorists,” the Chairman stated.

He also appealed to members of the public to report suspicious activity via the Unit feedback mechanism to aid the fight against criminality.

Both suspects who pleaded not guilty in court, have been remanded at a correctional facility pending further legal proceedings.

In a related development,

the Agency today also embarked on its enforcement operation on ban on commercial motorcycles on Lagos highways and other restricted routes to rid the State of recalcitrant okada operators.

The areas visited during the operation include; Mile 2 Bridge, Agboju and Apple junction in Festac where some recalcitrant okada operators were constituting nuisance on the highways and other restricted routes

During the enforcement exercise, a total number of 69 Okada were impounded and sanity was restored in all the areas.

All the impounded Commercial motorcycles will be forfeited to the State through court in line with Lagos State Transport Sectors reform law of 2018.