Lagos taskforce arrests fake official for extorting motorists

The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) has apprehended a suspected impostor, Idowu Adesina, aged 35, for impersonating a taskforce official and unlawfully extorting motorists.

Idowu, whose residence is listed as No. 13 Ijegun road, Ikotun, was arrested at Cele Bus Stop along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway where he and other members of a syndicate are known for their notorious activities of terrorizing motorists in the area by falsely accusing them of traffic offences such as driving one-way and other related infractions, under the guise of taskforce operations.

According to the Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Taskforce, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, in a statement, the suspect was caught by plain-clothed officers on patrol in the act of impersonation and extortion, further dragging the name of the Lagos State taskforce into disrepute.

He added that Investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the illegal traffic enforcement syndicate, who remain at large.

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.

He warned that individuals involved in impersonation or illegal traffic enforcement should desist forthwith or be ready to face the music.

“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 “See Something, Say Something” initiative to aid the agency’s fight against criminality.

Idowu, who pleaded guilty in court, has been remanded at a correctional facility pending further legal proceedings. The case has been adjourned till August 27, 2025.

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