Nemesis on Wednesday, caught up with three suspects who have been disguising as Local Government Traffic officers to extort motorists in Oshodi area of Lagos after the trio were arrested in Lagos.
The suspects, who claimed to be working with Oshodi/ Isolo Local Government, Oshodi were arrested by Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce), on the orders of its Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye after receiving complaints from some of their victims.
They include: Samuel Oyegbule 52, Olayiwola Thomas 53, and Kola Taiwo 47,.
Spokesperson of the Task Force, Femi Malik said the suspect on Tuesday, extorted N25,000:00 from one of their victims for obstruction.
According to him, another victim equally alleged he was extorted of the same amount the previous day.
The Spokesperson said the first victim who does not want his names in print said they walked up to his vehicle while waiting for traffic light in Oyetayo Street knocking on his side glass and he wound down to listen to them ‘but, they said I have committed a traffic offence and I was forced to Oshodi – Isolo Local Government Secretariat, Oshodi, where I was made to part with 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, an expressway or where there are bus stops. They refused to listen to my explanation but fined me N25,000.”
The victims alleged that the suspects select vehicles they know can pay their charges before arresting them in trumped charges and forcing them to the Local Government headquarters to make payment.
“They also brought into the same place several other vehicles arrested in the same manner like mine and they were made to pay same charges or higher”, he said.
Warning other touts and persons who illegally issue tickets to motorists on public roads and streets, CSP Jejeloye noted that Taskforce would continue with the arrest of miscreants posing as council officials to extort road users.
“I have received a lot of complaints and we have taken time to analyse them. We have made our findings too. Lagos State Government would not tolerate such excesses”, he added.
