….the Agency today also impounds 69 commercial motorcycles at mile 2 axis.

…… vows to cripple all illegalities in the State.

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) has apprehended two suspected impersonators, Paul Anthony aged (42) and Mukaila Adepo (31) for impersonating Taskforce officials and unlawfully extorting motorists at Oshodi and other areas of the State.

According to a statement by Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem Head Press/Public Affairs Lagos State Taskforce, the duo whose residence are listed as Eniola Adesanya street and Titilayo Street in Mafoluku and Oshodi respectively were arrested at Oshodi Bus Stop along Bolade inward Oshodi-Iyana Ipaja Expressway where the members of the syndicate are known for their notorious activities of terrorizing motorists by falsely accusing them of traffic offences such as driving one-way and other related infractions, under the guise of being Taskforce operatives.

Two suspected impersonators, Paul Anthony and Mukaila Adepo

The Lagos State Taskforce apprehended two individuals, residents of Eniola Adesanya Street in Mafoluku and Titilayo Street in Oshodi, at Oshodi Bus Stop along the Oshodi-Iyana Ipaja Expressway. According to Mr. Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, Head of Press/Public Affairs at the Lagos State Taskforce, the duo, posing as Taskforce operatives, would falsely accuse motorists of traffic offenses like one-way driving, extorting them in the process.

The suspect were caught by plain clothed officers of the Agency on patrol during the impostors illegal activities, who are has.been dragging the name of the State Taskforce in the mud. Investigations and efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the illegal traffic enforcement gangs in the State.

Reacting to the arrest, the Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, vowed to go hard and prosecute all impostors dragging the name of the agency in the mud and warned that individuals involved in impersonation or illegal traffic enforcement should be ready to face prosecution in the court of competent jurisdiction ”

The Chairman of the Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele

“In this dispensation, the Lagos State Taskforce is committed to making the metropolis uninhabitable for environmental and criminally minded detractors. We are determined to restore sanity and public trust by ridding the Highways of fake officials and individuals that are out to cause pain to motorists,” the Chairman stated.

He also appealed to members of the public to report suspicious activity via the Unit feedback mechanism to aid the fight against criminality. The two suspects who pleaded not guilty in court, has been remanded at a correctional facility pending further legal proceedings.

In a related development, the Agency today also embarked on its enforcement operation on ban on Commercial motorcycles on Lagos highways and other restricted routes to rid the State of recalcitrant okada operators.

The areas visited during the operation includes; Mile 2 Bridge, Agboju and Apple junction in Festac where some recalcitrant okada operators were constituting nuisance on the highways and other restricted routes

During the enforcement exercise, a total number of 69 Okada were impounded and sanity was restored in all the areas. All the impounded Commercial motorcycles will be forfeited to the State through court in line with Lagos State Transport Sectors reform law of 2018.