By Demilade Adeniyi
Six fake traffic enforcement officers were on Thursday arrested at Igando axis of the state when they waylaid and extorted a tipper vehicle driver, the Commissioner for Transportation Dr Frederic Oladeinde has said.
Oladeinde in a statement signed by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry stated that the arrest was part of ongoing effort to sanitise the state of all illegal acts by miscreants masquerading as Traffic Enforcement Officers on commercial transport operators.
The Commissioner gave the identities of the men arrested by the Transport Operation Compliance Unit (TOCU) of the Ministry as; Femi Stephen, Shina Alade, Tunde Banire, Semiu Oyebisi, Adeitan Lookman and Taiye Sanni, all of who were arrested when they swooped on the tipper driver Oladokun Rafiu, who they tried to extort, while he was on the way to offload sand in the area.
Condemning the actions of the apprehended persons, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, stated that the State Government will fish out other individuals disguising as law enforcement officials as their actions taint the reputation of the government and sabotaging the state’s economic development.
Oladeinde assured that the State Government will not relent in its effort to sanitize the transport sector and eliminate man made encumbrances. He warned that anyone caught will be prosecuted.
Earlier, Mr. Oladokun (the tipper driver), revealed that the apprehended men were just one set of those stationed at the various illegal toll points where they collect up to N1000 and more from drivers. He expressed his gratitude to the Lagos State Government for their timely intervention on the matter.
The apprehended men have been handed over to the Police for prosecution.