Task force arrests 54 ticket touts

From Christopher Oji 

The Lagos State Task Force has arrested 54 suspects involved in illegal ticketing and extortion of trucks and commercial vehicles entering the state.

The arrests were made in key areas of Lagos, including Isolo, Mushin, Apapa, Mile 2, and along the Lagos-Badagry expressway.

According to the director of press and public affairs,Lagos State Task Force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem,“The suspects, who specialise in waylaying trucks loaded with goods and imposing unlawful fines on them, have, through their activities, plagued truck operators for some time and contributed negatively to delays and disruptions in the smooth flow of goods and services in and out of the state.”

Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele, emphasised that the enforcement exercises were part of the agency’s mandate to put an end to such unlawful practices.

“This illegal ticketing system has been operating for far too long. We are committed to arresting and prosecuting anyone who imposes unjustified fines on trucks and commercial vehicles. These practices are not only illegal but also detrimental to the state’s economy.

“The ongoing operation is part of a wider effort by the task force to restore law and order across Lagos, ensuring that businesses can operate without the threat of extortion by touts and other illegal actors.

“It is part of our statutory responsibilities to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in the illegal issuance of fines/tickets within the metropolis, therefore, we will ensure that anyone involved in this illicit practice is brought to book,” he said.

Akerele concluded with a call to the public to cooperate with the authorities and help rid the state of touts. The task force urged residents and business owners to report suspicious activities to the agency and assured them that further arrests would be made to curb the widespread menace.

“The 54 suspects will be charged to court immediately,” he said.