LASTMA Apprehends Impersonator Extorting Motorists on Oshodi Bridge

LASTMA Apprehends Impersonator Extorting Motorists on Oshodi Bridge

In a decisive operation, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has apprehended a 45-year-old man, Mr. Adewunmi Taiwo, for impersonating a LASTMA officer and extorting motorists on Oshodi Bridge, Lagos. The suspect, who had been posing as a traffic officer to intimidate and extort money from both commercial and private drivers, was detained on Tuesday.

Using a white Hiace Coaster Bus with the registration number KJA 724 YJ, Mr. Taiwo allegedly operated under the guise of a LASTMA official, pressuring drivers in the area. Upon searching the vehicle, LASTMA officers discovered official LASTMA items, including a uniform and branded raincoat, confirming his intent to deceive and extort unsuspecting drivers.

During questioning, Mr. Taiwo, a resident of Ilesha, Osun State, and a father of three, admitted to using the uniform to intimidate motorists on high-traffic routes along Ikorodu Road and the Oshodi-Mile 2 Expressway. He confessed to making between N15,000 and N25,000 daily from these unauthorized activities.

Responding to the incident, LASTMA General Manager Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki stated that the agency had received numerous complaints about the suspect’s vehicle and mobilized the Surveillance and Monitoring Unit to investigate. “We are committed to upholding LASTMA's reputation and integrity,” Bakare-Oki asserted. "We warn individuals against misusing LASTMA’s identity for illegal purposes; violators will face the full extent of the law, as this man will be duly prosecuted."

LASTMA assures Lagos motorists of its dedication to maintaining law and order on the roads. The agency encourages the public to report suspicious activities through LASTMA’s toll-free hotline (080000527862) to help eradicate such practices.

Adebayo Taofiq  

Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA