How Taskforce arrested three suspects for allegedly extorting motorists on trumped-up charges

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 were working with Oshodi–Isolo Local Government Area were arrested on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, on the orders of the Chairman, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit, CSP Shola Jejeloye, after receiving complaints from some of their victims.
 
The Taskforce Head, Public Affairs Unit, Femi Moliki, gave the names of the suspects as Samuel Oyegbule (52), Olayiwola Thomas (53) and Kola Taiwo (47).
 
According to Moliki, suspect had in Tuesday extorted N25,000 from one of their victims for obstruction. Another victim equally alleged he was extorted of the same amount the previous day.
 
According to the first victim who craved anonymity, “they walked up to my vehicle while waiting for traffic light in Oyetayo Street. They knocked on 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 a inner street of Oshodi. It wasn’t a major road or highway or where there are bus stops. They refused to listen to my explanation. They fined me N25,000.”
 
The victims had disclosed how the suspects were selecting vehicles they knew would be able to pay their charges before arresting them in trumped-up charges and forcing them to 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 as well. Some of them were made to pay a higher amount,” one of the victims added.
 
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.