Dismissed Police Officer Resumes Work As Lagos Task Force Official

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 54-year old dismissed Police officer, Julius Ehizenaga, has disregarded his sack and resumed work as Lagos Task Force officer extorting money from motorists before he was caught. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that Ehizenaga was dismissed from the Police Force in 2006 and he became jobless because of lack provision for retirement. He then went back to work now as Task Force official impounding vehicles and extorting money from motorists with his accomplice, Salisu Sikiru, 43.

However, they ran out of luck as they were eventually arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force for impersonation and extortion. 

They were alleged to have been going about arresting unsuspecting motorists and extorting them of their hard earned money. But on Friday, nemesis caught up with them in the evening at Anthony Village while they tried to arrest and tow the vehicle of a motorist.
They apprehended a motorist to extort money from him but the motorist quickly called the officers from the Lagos State Task Force, who confirmed they were impostors, leading to their arrest.

This was confirmed by the Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye, who disclosed that he has been on the trail of the duo for a while due to the numerous reports he had received from members of the public about a certain “Taskforce” team, which arrest motorists and start negotiating financial settlements in exchange of the release of their vehicle.

“I receive a lot of calls and complaints online from people saying that men from the Task Force attempted to tow their vehicle if they don’t settle them. That is not how we operate here. Not everyone dressed up in black, green and tactical jacket is from the Task Force. Some are from other security agencies and units, or impostors like these two” Jejeloye stated.

According to one of the suspects, Julius Ehizenega, their targets are usually vehicles conveying goods improperly loaded. 
“We arrest them and threaten them with impoundment before they part with some money.” 
“I used to be a Policeman but I got dismissed in 2006 for absconding from duty before going into this practice years later. We target Danfos mostly, and on a good day we impound 5 vehicles and claim to charge them with insecure loading. Once in a while we arrest private motorists too” he said. 

The second suspect claimed his role was to block the vehicle of their preys with his towing vehicle in order to create fear and panic in the hearts of the victims.
“I operate towing vehicle services; my job therefore, is to bring in the towing vehicle once it’s time to apprehend any victim.”
“On the day, we were caught and I noticed my colleagues ran away after I had blocked the vehicle with the towing truck. I was confused. Before I knew what was happening I was already in the custody of men of the State Task Force” he said. 

Jejeloye assured that the two suspected impersonators will be brought to book and hope this serves as a warning to other criminal elements, who tarnish the image of the Agency by carrying out unlawful arrest and seizure of vehicles and property of innocent members of the public.

“I urge members of the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities to the nearby Police Station or to the Agency through our feedback channels for prompt action. There is no more room for criminality in Lagos”, he assured.
He also said that the suspects will be charged before the Court for the alleged offence after the conclusion of investigations.