In a resolute operation conducted by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), a man impersonating a LASTMA officer, Mr. Adewunmi Taiwo, age 45, was detained on Oshodi Bridge. This individual had been posing as an official to intimidate and extort funds from both commercial and private motorists in the vicinity.

Mr Adebayo Taofiq Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, in a statement said operating a white Hiace Coaster Bus with the license plate KJA 724 YJ, Mr. Taiwo utilized this guise to harass drivers in the area. Upon a meticulous search of his vehicle, LASTMA Officers uncovered an official LASTMA uniform, including a branded raincoat, among his possessions, confirming his intentions to deceive.

During interrogation, Mr. Taiwo, who claimed to hail from Ilesha in Osun State and is married with three children, confessed to misusing the uniform to extort unwitting motorists, targeting high-traffic routes along Ikorodu Road and the Oshodi to Mile 2 expressway. He further admitted to generating between N15,000 and N25,000 daily from these unauthorized activities.

Addressing the incident, LASTMA General Manager Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki confirmed that the agency had received multiple reports regarding extortion linked to this particular Hiace Coaster Bus. In response, LASTMA’s Surveillance and Monitoring Unit was mobilized to investigate and subsequently apprehend the suspect.

“We are unwavering in our commitment to uphold LASTMA’s integrity and professionalism,” affirmed Mr. Bakare-Oki. “I take this opportunity to issue a stern warning to individuals who exploit LASTMA’s identity for unlawful gains: any attempt to tarnish the agency’s reputation will be met with the full force of the law as the man will be charged accordingly.”

LASTMA reassures the public of its vigilant enforcement efforts to safeguard the efficacy of traffic management in Lagos State. The agency urges all motorists to report any suspicious activities via LASTMA’s toll-free hotlines (080000527862) to aid in eradicating this illicit practice.