Thirty-one (31) persons, including a policeman, three LASTMA officials, three FRSC officers, one NPA staff and 23 civilians have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command over alleged extortions of motorists in some parts of the state.
Nigeriacrime.com gathered that the arrest was carried out around Iganmu and Apapa area of Lagos.
Confirming the arrest, the command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the CP’s special task force on extortion by uniform men and routes in Lagos carried out the operations on Tuesday.
Hundeyin said that the arrest was carried out around Iganmu and Apapa area of Lagos.
He said that the suspects were also causing heavy traffic while carrying out their activities.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Idowu Owohunwa, set up a task force, which conducted the operation following reports of incessant extortion of motorists by thugs and some recalcitrant law enforcement officers.
The task force arrested 18 suspects last week on Friday and Saturday in Mile 2 area of the state.
Hundeyin said that the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) in the state, Mr Fatai Tijani.
“Determined to check escalating cases of extortion on the highways, 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 began raids on Friday, was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and comprises tactical teams and provost officers from the state headquarters.
“CP Owohunwa warned that any law enforcement personnel, irrespective of agency, found complicit in extortion racketeering, would be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Hundeyin said.
The image maker said that the CP promised motorists that the enforcement team would sustain the raids and replicate the same in other parts of the state until total sanity was restored.