RED ALERT: Fake LASTMA officials on the prowl !

Against the backdrop of reported cases of assaults and extortion of innocent motorists plying major routes in Lagos roads, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has urged residents to be vigilant over the rising presence and activities of men claiming to be its officials and the state’s taskforce unit.

 

This red alert came, following the end of the road for two fraudsters who have been impersonating officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, to defraud erring motorists.

The two suspects, Funsho Williams and Adekogbe Olabode, were arrested by the police after collecting the sum of N35,000 from a motorist under a false pretence.

The victim, a 62-year-old retiree of the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Mr Felix Adesanya, who narrated his ordeal at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH where he had gone for treatment as a result of injury sustained in the hands of the suspects, said he was sold a dummy of a spurious allegation of flouting traffic laws and told that for him to avoid being taken to the now famous ‘Alausa’ head office of the agency, he had to part with the money.

According to the Abeokuta, Ogun State born indigene: “I was discharged from Lagos State Teaching Hospital, LASUTH in September and given a medical appointment for Wednesday, November 12, 2014 to meet up with my appointment. So, I left my No 4 Olaonisebe Close, Akute residence in my ash coloured Toyota Camry with registration number KRD 653 BX.

“While I was driving to LASUTH, I was flagged down by two men in mufti wearing a reflective jacket on my way at Akilo area of Ogba. I halted with the thought that the two were in need of assistance to move farther. To my surprise the duo accused me of disobeying traffic personnel and all explanation that I did not commit any traffic offence fell on deaf ears as they were bent on arresting me.

“The duo insisted that I have committed a traffic offence and forcefully entered my vehicle introduced themselves as LASTMA officials and flashed an ID card with the inscription of Lagos Traffic Taskforce. They later demanded for my wallet, ransacked it and took N30,000 with a threat to take me to their office if I do not cooperate and summed up the money to N60, 000.”

“In order to meet up with my appointment, I went on my knees begging my captives for mercy and I was advised to take them to the nearest Automated Teller Machine (ATM) or face the risk of forfeiting my vehicle and paying N120, 00 to government. “Left between the deep-blue sea and the devil, I followed them obediently. At the ATM, they demanded to know my account balance which I refuted and withdrew N5, 000 only. With N35,000, the fake traffic task forces were not yet done as they demanded that I drop them at the Guinness bus-stop. With N35,000 in hand, the fake traffic officials tried to make good their escape and flagged down a commercial motorcyclist but I held one of them on the clothe and shouted out for help,” explained Adesanya.

Meanwhile, as pandemonium broke out, and with people running after them, one of the suspects jumped on the tail of a moving commercial bus, and it was while this was going on that a LASTMA patrol vehicle approached the scene and stopped the bus from moving away.

It took the concerted efforts of the Police and the LASTMA team to stop the mob from lynching them, as they were later taken to Area ‘F’ Police Station, Ikeja for further investigation, said a LASTMA official, Jonathan Arewa.

Also confirming the incident, the Investigation Police Officer, Area ‘F’ Police Station, Ikeja, Saliu Sanni disclosed that further investigation would be conducted, and suspects charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.

However, LASTMA boss, Engr. Babatunde Edu, who condemned the act, disclosing that the impostors were never staff of his agency, however, warned impostors to desist from the illegal act or face the full weight of the law.

According to him “Residents must be alert and report any suspicious act from officials. LASTMA officials are to be in uniform at all time with visible name tag and no officer must cover his or her name tag with beret, pen or other items. Motorists have the right of asking for the official’s identity as anything short of this is illegal and must be reported to the authorities.”