Three people impersonating government officials to extort motorists around Berger area of Lagos State have been arrested by operatives of the Zone 2 police command .
The arrested suspects, identified as Ajala Kabiru, Olasunkanmi Popoola and Kazeem Hassan, were reportedly caught in the act.
The image maker in charge of the zone, Muyiwa Adejobi, a superintendent of police, confirmed the arrest to Lagos Metro.
Adejobi, while confirming the arrest, said “With the effort of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Lagos, AIG Abdulmajid Ali, to curb touting, extortion and illegal revenue collection on major highways within the zone, the zonal command has arrested three suspects at Berger Area, boundary between Lagos and Ogun states, on Saturday, for extortion and illegal revenue collection at the Lagos end of the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
He added that the zonal command had received series of petitions and complaints from various transport associations/unions for illegal toll or revenue collections and, even, extortion by some touts or hoodlums, who disguise as government agents/officials, on highways within the zone, particularly on Lagos/Ibadan, Sagamu/Ijebu Ode/Benin Expressways and at various points in Lagos and Ogun states.
The police spokesperson added that “the AIG has also challenged government revenue agencies (agents) and departments to always issue marks of identification or personal identity cards to their staff.”
or operatives for easy identification so as to assist the police and other security operatives in the course of discharging their duties of law enforcement and maintenance of law and order” .
While assuring the general public of a thorough cleansing of the zonal command, the AIG urged members of the public to reach him on his mobile line,08055885544, whenever the need arose.