Fake Task Force Official Arrested, 97 Motorcycles Impounded

LUCKY LAWAL

A 51-year old tout was arrested by the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force on 24th of May, 2018, for impersonating as an official of the agency, illegally arresting a vehicle and obtaining money through false pretense from an innocent man.

The notorious tout was arrested by the enforcement team of the Agency under the Mile 12 Bridge for illegal arrest of a Toyota Camry car for obstruction and obtaining N3000 under false pretense.

The Chairman of the Task Force, SP Adeyinka Egbeyemi stated that the Agency had received several complaints from motorists about the illegal activities of these touts. He said that the ban on activities of touts and Local Government traffic officials from controlling and enforcing traffic laws across the State was the response from government to the clarion call to curb their nefarious activities.

SP Egbeyemi advised motorists accosted by these touts not to yield to their intimidation and demand for money irrespective of location they were being taken to.
“Motorists should report anybody not authorised trying to assault or extort them to the nearest police station or any law enforcement agency” he said.

The Chairman reiterated that government directive ordering touts and traffic officials of Local Government to vacate roads in the State and desist from controlling and enforcing traffic laws was still very much in force. He advised members of the public to be vigilant about activities of these touts who were now on the increase, impersonating themselves as ‘Task Force officials’ extorting and harassing motorists on different routes across the State.

SP Egbeyemi commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for supporting the Agency with necessary security gadgets including security jackets which now made officers of the Agency to be conspicuously identified while on official duties.
He however confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi has directed that the arrested impersonator be immediately charged to court for prosecution.

The owner of the illegally impounded Toyota Camry car, Mr. Balogun Adebayo said, “The man (arrested tout) charged me N15000 for the traffic offence he claimed I have committed under Mile 12 Bridge but I was able
to raise the N3000 he collected from me”.

The fake official confessed to have collected the N3000 and that he made an average of N15000 to N30000 daily from the illegal activities around Ketu and under the bridge at Mile 12 respectively. He however appealed to the government to tamper justice with mercy as he said that he was ready to be of good character if pardoned. A Motorola GP 340 security walkie talkie, N3000 cash and Toyota Camry car with registration number MUS 319 DL were recovered from the impostor.

Also, the enforcement team of the Agency impounded 97 commercial motorcycles between Ojota and Ikorodu area. Activities of the notorious commercial motorcyclists between Ojota and Ikorodu were eyesore as they plied major highways, bridges and harassed upcoming vehicles (against traffic) with 2 to 3 passengers.

The Agency warned members of the public not to engage commercial motorcyclists on the 475 restricted routes including major highways and bridges across the State.