JUST IN: Lagos motorists lament widespread extortion, carpet LASTMA, police

Some Nigerians have lamented the increasing rate of extortion on Lagos roads by policemen and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority.

On different social media platforms on Tuesday, including PUNCH Online, motorists and commuters, who shared their ordeals, stated that the problem persisted because of the complicity of the authorities and lack of deterrence in the system.

The reaction followed an investigation by PUNCH Metro on a syndicate made up of policemen and LASTMA officers at the Berger-Isheri area of Lagos.

Our correspondent, who disguised as a hawker and sold popcorn and face masks in traffic, observed for four hours as the group exploited motorists seeking to connect from the Berger-Isheri Road to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

This reporter noted that the green arrow of the old traffic light ran for about 20 seconds before indicating the amber and the red light.

Motorists, who left the waiting lane between 17th and 19th seconds, when the green light was still on, were arrested as soon as they got to the road linking the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Our correspondent also observed as the LASTMA officers and policemen stopped motorists and pointed their attention to the traffic light, which by then had turned red.

PUNCH Metro noted that the motorists were stopped on the instruction of a pot-bellied man in mufti, who entered the vehicles.

The dark-complexion man, with two others also in mufti, entered at least two Toyota Camry cars and did not alight until after a stop at a Point-of-Sale terminal shop.

While the investigation lasted, our correspondent noticed coordination among the uniformed officers, numbering seven, as motorists were extorted.

On PUNCH Online, a resident with the alias, 9ja Daddy, who seemed familiar with the syndicate, described the “pot-bellied” official as a multi-millionaire who had been operating at the junction for about eight years.

He said, “There are three extortion points there. Point 1 is the one mentioned. It is the exit towards Lagos-Ibadan expressway. It is controlled by Olowoira policemen. Hours of operation is just after 0500hrs.The dark guy in mufti on the right stopping the Land Rover is the head of the team. He is a multi-millionaire. He and his deputy have never worn a police uniform in eight years now. The other short policeman is an accomplice. There is another tall slim one in police uniform always wearing orange helmet. Then there are also two traffic wardens; the pot-bellied one (formerly at Omole Roundabout) and “slender Ojo” who rides a rickety motorcycle and lives at Ivenagbor Street, Ojodu (he has about six danfos plying Ojodu to Ogba/Ikeja). They will stop you midway on green then arrest you for red-light infraction.”

A reader, who identified himself as Akata, said LASTMA officers always extorted money from motorists at the FESTAC Town.

 “The one that those criminal agents called LASTMA usually perpetrate at FESTAC Town by 1st gate, where we have a Nipco gas station and Apple Junction is terrible,” he stated.

On Twitter, a reader, Lumidee, said there was another syndicate operating on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

“It is almost everywhere in Lagos now, and that’s how they do. They are on Lekki-Epe Expressway too. All of them are even fond of doing videos; the camera would capture u with the red light after you have passed,” he wrote.

A Facebook user, Usman Olalekan, described the extortion by policemen and LASTMA officers at the Iyana Ipaja Motor Park as “outrageous”.

“It is a business center for those police women there. They collect money without fear, every minute,” he wrote.

Another Facebook user, Adeyemo Nasir, said, “Traffic light by Ikeja under bridge inward Maryland- LASUTH. Another miliki point for LASTMA and police officers.”

A reader, Adeniran Adeniyi, while accusing LASTMA officers, said the authorities needed to pay attention to the harassment of motorists at the Ikorodu Roundabout.

He said, “Last week Saturday, I called their control office for a vehicle ahead of mine being wrongly arrested for the same complaint. But there was no response.”

A Facebook user, Mufutau Ajao, said there was a ‘synergy’ between policemen and LASTMA at the Ikeja Underbridge beside the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

Ajao added, “While that of Allen has another partner in CBD extorting motorists on a daily basis.”

A motorist, Seyi, said, “They even work with towing vehicles. End of Adeniran Ogunsanya where the traffic light is, there’s always a standby LASTMA lady always recording with her phone to catch innocent victims. Same with Ajao Estate via Osolo. Those ones are vampires.

In January 2021, the Lagos State Government launched a number plate detection platform, PayVIS, to capture vehicles violating traffic laws.

According to the state, cameras beside traffic lights will capture traffic offenders without the involvement of officials.

The platform was developed for the Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Service to track, monitor, and book traffic offenders.

In March 2021, the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also publicly launched body cameras for law enforcement agents as part of measures to enhance security and stop abuse of power.

Experts say the continuous harassment and extortion of motorists by security agents are indications of the abandonment of the two initiatives, which may have checked against such practices.