By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The government said the arrest was in line with its efforts to sanitize the transport sector against individuals parading themselves as government enforcement personnel.
They were arrested by the Lagos State Task Force in collaboration with the Transport Operations Compliance Unit of the Ministry of Transportation for illegal enforcement operations.
The fake enforcers were paraded at the Ministry of Transportation on Wednesday. The names of three of them were Olayinka Daniel, Shola Babarinde and Ilesanmi.
A statement issued by Bolanle Ogunlola, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, said the suspects were reported by a motorist who claimed they had forcefully gained access to his vehicle and accused him of not having a Stage Carriage Permit.
He explained that he was asked to pay N15,500 despite having other vehicle documents.
The statement said the fake enforcement personnel later confessed in addition to the alleged fine collected, to have been selling unauthorized Local Government Emblems to vehicle operators plying the area under the supervision of one “Mr. Tunji” who live around Oniwaya axis in Agege area.
In another development, some fake enforcement officials were also arrested at Ago Palace Way, Okota for illegal extortion of truck drivers.
The government said they claimed to be working for the Local Government but were unable to provide identification upon their arrest.
Reacting to the fraudulent surge of the activities of the fake enforcers, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Engr. Abdulhafiz Toriola, stated that while the culprits had been handed over to the Police, he assured that decisive actions would be taken on them in line with the Lagos State Traffic Law 2018, for tainting the name of the state government and inflicting pains on motorists.
Toriola also warned against destruction and theft of road signs and other road furniture across the State.
He added that investigation had revealed that unauthorized cart pushers and metal scrap collectors were the major perpetrators of the dastard act. (PMNews)
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