Peter Okoye, PBA Journalism MenteeThe Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has apprehended a suspected fake traffic officer impersonating the agency.
The 55 year-old suspect, Omotutu Bamidele was arrested around the Ikoyi area of the state.
The Director, Public Affairs Department of LASTMA, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
He said that the suspect, who hailed from Atijere Town in Ondo State, confessed that he and his colleagues still at large were making an average of N35,000 from extortion acts on daily basis.
Bamidele confessed to have been impersonating the agency with a reflective jacket and extorting money from motorists particularly private car owners/drivers in some areas across the state.
“Any motorist particularly private car owners I caught dropping someone at any undesignated bus stop paid between N15,000 to N20,000, while those caught for driving against traffic (One-way) paid a minimum of N35,000,” the statement read.
The director, Public Affairs Department of LASTMA, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, quoted General Manager, MMrBolaji Oreagba, to have confirmed that the suspect was arrested at Olu Holloway Road by Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by men of the agency’s Monitoring/Surveillance team, led by MMrAshafa Moyosore (Zonal Head).
Oreagba added that the agency carried out special monitoring/Surveillance operations about the suspect and got him arrested in response to complaints from the motoring public (Obinna Kingsley and Adewusi Adebola) via LASTMA hotlines/social media handles.
“Investigation conducted revealed that the arrested suspect has been extorting huge sums of money from motorists for various traffic offences ranging from the seatbelt, obstructions, illegal over-taking and One-way at different locations around Lagos Island.
“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users, particularly motorists on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from them,” he said.
LASTMA boss, therefore, urged the general public to be cautious of those fake traffic officers stating that the agency operates a cashless policy as any violators apprehended are charged to court with a ‘Referral Notice’ issued to them.
“Let me warn the motoring public to desist from inducing traffic officers in any form as both the giver and taker are liable before the law,” Oregaba added.
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