Lagos Task Force Under Fire Over Alleged Extortion

Lagos Task Force Under Fire Over Alleged Extortion
Government Pushes Back
Akerele urged the public to be cautious about information circulating online

Motorists in Lagos are raising concerns over what they describe as increasing harassment on the roads, alleging that touts are working alongside officials of the Lagos State Task Force.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that several drivers claim that some of these individuals deliberately set them up forcing them into traffic violations like one-way driving only to record videos and accuse them of breaking the law.

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In a video shared online, a man was seen being confronted and physically handled by individuals identified as touts. According to reports, the man initially thought he was being attacked by robbers before realising they were linked to enforcement activities.

Witnesses alleged that the group ordered him out of his vehicle and demanded his car key. When he resisted, security operatives reportedly stepped in. In another claim, an elderly man was said to have been subjected to force, with his belongings including his number plate and car battery taken during the encounter.

Reacting to the allegations, Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, Adetayo Akerele, dismissed the claims, suggesting they were part of coordinated online attacks against him and the agency.

Lagos Task Force Under Fire Over Alleged Extortion — Akerele

He argued that some individuals were pushing false narratives after failing to get preferential treatment, adding that he had evidence of messages requesting favours and threatening blackmail.

Akerele urged the public to be cautious about information circulating online, insisting that the agency remains focused on enforcing traffic laws without bias.

Also responding, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, denied any collaboration between the task force and touts.

He also rejected suggestions that the government was using traffic enforcement as a means of generating revenue, stating that such claims lack logic and do not reflect the state’s approach to governance.

Despite these denials, the situation continues to spark debate, with many residents calling for greater transparency and accountability in road enforcement across the state.