A 47-year-old man, Adetayo Adewodun, has been arrested by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) for impersonating a traffic officer and extorting money from an unsuspecting motorist around the Itire junction area of Lagos.
Adewodun was caught after he fraudulently collected N7,800 from a driver, Mr. Ayano Stephen, who was accused of making an illegal turn. The suspect had posed as a LASTMA official and demanded N80,000 as a supposed penalty for the traffic offence.
Unable to pay the amount, the driver pleaded and handed over the only cash in his possession — N7,800 — to the fake officer.
However, shortly after the encounter, he became suspicious of the suspect’s behaviour and contacted LASTMA through its toll-free hotline (0800-00-LASTMA / 0800-005-27862) to verify the authenticity of the alleged officer.
According to a statement on Wednesday by LASTMA’s spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, the agency’s Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, under the directive of its General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, mobilized to the scene.
The suspect attempted to flee upon sighting the approaching enforcement team but was quickly apprehended and taken to the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi for interrogation.
During questioning, Adewodun confessed to being part of a three-man criminal syndicate that routinely disguises as LASTMA personnel to extort motorists around Itire axis. He revealed that the group makes an average of N65,000 daily from their illegal operations.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Bakare-Oki, commended the vigilance of the motorist who reported the incident, describing it as an act of civic responsibility. He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to integrity, professionalism, and transparency in its operations across the State.
Bakare-Oki also warned the public against falling victim to impersonators, stressing that genuine LASTMA officials can be easily identified by their official uniforms, personalised name tags, and unique service identification numbers.
“I can assure the public that the suspect will be arraigned before a Mobile Court to serve as a deterrent to other unscrupulous elements who habitually disguise as LASTMA officials to extort innocent members of the public,” he said.
He urged motorists to report any suspicious enforcement activity through the agency’s verified communication channels, especially its toll-free number (0800-005-27862), assuring that such reports would receive immediate attention.
- Media Report