Three Police Officers, LASTMA, FRSC Officials, 15 Hoodlums Held for Extortion Along Port Road
Some of the arrested officials
The Lagos State Police Command at the weekend revealed that 15 thugs were arrested while extorting truckers along the Lagos Ports access roads while three police officers, one Federal Road Safety Corporation (FRSC), and one Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA)officer were arrested for conniving with the hoodlums to extort truck drivers.
In a statement signed over the weekend by the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, the raid followed reports of extortion of truck drivers and other motorists by thugs and some recalcitrant law enforcement officers along the roads leading to the ports in Lagos.
According to the statement, “Following reports of extortion of truck drivers and other motorists by thugs and some recalcitrant law enforcement officers, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Idowu Owohunwa, set up an enforcement team with the mandate of raiding spots that have been identified as notorious for such nefarious activities.
“The enforcement team which commenced raids on Friday was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and comprises tactical teams and provost officers from the State headquarters.
“The team was at Mile 2 area of the State — a hotbed for the brazen extortionists.
“A total of fifteen thugs were arrested in the Extortion act while three police officers, one FRSC and one LASTMA personnel were also arrested for being in cahoots with the touts.
“CP Owohunwa hereby warns that any law enforcement personnel, irrespective of agency, found complicit in these extortion racketeering would not be spared as they would be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law.
“Meanwhile, the CP has assured Lagosians, especially motorists that the newly set-up enforcement team would sustain the raids and definitely replicate them in other parts of the State where the same issues exist until total sanity is restored.”
