The Chairman of the Lagos State environmental and special offences enforcement unit (Taskforce), CSP Shola Jejeloye warned motorists to be ready to face the full wrath of the law when caught driving against traffic.
Speaking at the Taskforce headquarters today at the Safety Arena, Bolade Oshodi, Jejeloye reacted to a viral Facebook video of one Mr. George Udeze who alleged that men of the Taskforce impounded his white Honda Accord car, with registration number 03-566 DLA about 7 months ago.
The Chairman said that there was no iota of truth in the social media report. According to him, the vehicle was impounded for driving against traffic at Allen Avenue inward Opebi Road.
He narrated that the man having discovered that there was traffic around the area, faced oncoming vehicles creating a serious traffic bottleneck.
He added that efforts by Taskforce Officials led by a senior police officer to persuade him to roll down his vehicle window glass for possible engagement proved abortive, but rather than being civil, he started making several phone calls and kept the officers waiting for hours, mobilizing the general public against the agency’s officials.
Consequently, the offender also alleged in the video that his vehicle had been confiscated for the past 7months.
The Chairman responded saying, “Our duty is to effect the arrest of the offenders, but we do not have the power to issue fines and penalties, it is a legal issue which has to be decided by a court of competent jurisdiction”.
He emphasized that ‘‘traffic bottlenecks popularly known as go slow and hold-ups are not natural, it is not created by God, but a product of a minute recklessness and two minutes impatience on the road’’, Jejeloye explained.
He further emphasized that motorists don’t need to be afraid of policemen if the right things are done. He mentioned that the agency impounded over 129 Motorcycles over the weekend.
“We will not condone any act of indiscipline and lawlessness from recalcitrant okada operators plying the restricted route”, he added.
The Lagos Taskforce team also busted a crime syndicate that specializes in extorting unsuspecting members of the public and arresting Okada riders under the guise of being a security operative attached to the Lagos State Taskforce.
The suspect, Emmanuel Okoh who operates between Ajah and Oshodi was arrested kitted in a mobile police uniform with a tactical jacket at Oshodi during the Agency’s raid.
