LASTMA Arrests Fake Officer for Extorting Motorist at Itire Junction

LASTMA Arrests Fake Officer for Extorting Motorist at Itire Junction

....Suspect confesses to belonging to three-man extortion syndicate

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested a 47-year-old man, Mr. Adetayo Adewodun, for impersonating a LASTMA officer and extorting money from a motorist at Itire Junction, Lagos.

According to the agency, Adewodun was nabbed on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, after he fraudulently collected ₦7,800 from one Mr. Ayano Stephen, the driver of a white Hilux vehicle (GME 259 TE) owned by a construction company. The impostor had accused the driver of making an illegal turn and demanded ₦80,000 as a supposed fine.

Unable to meet the demand, the victim pleaded and offered ₦7,800—the only cash on him—which the suspect collected before letting him go. However, Mr. Stephen became suspicious and quickly contacted LASTMA through its toll-free hotline (0800-00-LASTMA / 0800-005-27862) to confirm the officer’s identity.

Acting on the report, operatives from LASTMA’s Surveillance and Intelligence Unit, under the directive of the General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, stormed the area. The suspect attempted to flee but was chased down and apprehended.

During interrogation at the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi, Adewodun reportedly confessed to being part of a three-man gang that specializes in posing as LASTMA officers to extort motorists in the Itire axis and other parts of Lagos. He revealed that the syndicate makes an average of ₦65,000 daily from such illegal activities.

Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bakare-Oki, commended the victim for his vigilance and quick report, describing it as an act of civic responsibility.

He reiterated LASTMA’s commitment to integrity, professionalism, and transparency, stressing that genuine LASTMA officers can be easily identified by their official uniforms, name tags, and unique service identification numbers.

Bakare-Oki also reaffirmed the agency’s zero-tolerance stance against impersonation and urged motorists to stay alert and report suspicious enforcement activities through LASTMA’s verified channels, including its toll-free number (080000527862).

“The suspect will be charged before a Mobile Court to serve as a deterrent to others who disguise as LASTMA officers to defraud innocent motorists,” he said.

He added that the agency remains steadfast in its mission to ensure order and safety on Lagos roads while protecting law-abiding citizens from fraudulent exploitation.

– Adebayo Taofiq

Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA