Police begin clampdown on thugs extorting truck drivers, motorists

– Police, FRSC, LASTMA personnel amongst syndicates apprehended

– Exercise to be continuous – CP

Etim Ekpimah

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, Idowu Owohunwa, has 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 began raids on Friday, 4 August 2023 was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and comprises tactical teams and provost officers from the state headquarters. The team was at the Mile 2 area of the state — a hotbed for the brazen extortionists.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, on Saturday in a statement said a total of 15 thugs were arrested in the act while three police officers, one FRSC and one LASTMA personnel were also arrested for being in cahoots with the touts.

“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,” the statement added.

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.