TheCable

Three police officers, operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and those of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASEMA) have been arrested for alleged extortion.

According to NAN, Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, said the suspects were arrested around the Mile 2 area of the state between Friday and Saturday alongside 14 thugs.

Hundeyin said the arrests were carried out during an operation led by Fatai Tijani, the deputy commissioner of police (operations) in the state.

He added that Idowu Owohunwa, the Lagos commissioner of police, set up a task force that conducted the operation following reports of incessant extortion of motorists by thugs and some recalcitrant law enforcement officers.

“Determined to check escalating cases of extortion on the highways, CP Idowu Owohunwa, set up an enforcement team, with the mandate of raiding spots that have been identified as notorious for such nefarious activities,” Hundeyin said.

“The enforcement team, which began raids on Friday, was led by the deputy commissioner of police (operations) and comprises tactical teams and provost officers from the state headquarters.

“The team was at Mile 2 area of the state, a hotbed of brazen extortions.”

He added that Owohunwa warned that any law enforcement personnel, irrespective of agency, found complicit in extortion racketeering would be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.

“The CP promises motorists that the enforcement team would sustain the raids and replicate same in other parts of the state until total sanity is restored,” Hundeyin said.