Nineteen ‘Notorious’ Hoodlums Arrested For Using Fake Identity Cards To Extort Motorists, Traders In Lagos

No fewer than 19 ‘notorious’ hoodlums have been arrested for using fake identity cards to extort motorists and roadside traders in Lagos State.

Investigation revealed that the hoodlums who pretend to be approved government agents collect illegal parking dues from motorists as well as from roadside traders.

They were arrested on Tuesday during an enforcement operation by the operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

According to the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, operatives of the agency also impounded 123 vehicles over illegal parking around bridges at different locations on Lagos Island. These locations include Ebute-Ero by Idumota Bridge, Simpson Bridge, Apongbon under Bridge and Elegbata area.

The General Manager of the agency, Olalekan Bakare-Oki who led the combined enforcement team with security personnel said the exercise was carried out based on the directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa.

“It was nauseating seeing these private and commercial bus drivers constituting public nuisance by parking at free will around bridges thereby causing avoidable gridlock and inconvenience to other motorists and road users using these Bridges to link up with other parts of the State,” Bakare-Oki was quoted as saying.

“We will continue to ensure free flow of traffic by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown on these stubborn private and commercial bus drivers.”

He disclosed that owners and drivers of the impounded vehicles as well as the hoodlums would be prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.