Money Extorting Policemen, LASTMA Official Arrested in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command in a bid to curb the excesses of policemen within its command arrested six policemen over the weekend for extorting money from motorists. The arrest was carried out by operatives of the Commissioner of Police X Squad for extortion.

Two impersonators who wore Police uniform to escort a lorry were also arrested. Arrested also was an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA for allegedly extorting money from a motorist.

According to Vanguard source, the policemen were arrested at Oyingbo and Gbagada areas of Lagos state while allegedly extorting money from motorcycle and commercial bus operators.

Police sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the operatives who were ordered by the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, to rid the state of corrupt policemen, stormed Oyingbo, where they caught two Traffic Wardens and a conventional policeman attached to Area ‘C’ Command, at Oyingbo Bus-Stop, extorting money from commercial buses and lorry operators.

He also added that the arrested policemen will be tried by the provost department of the Command, while the impersonators will be charged to court.

The money extorting LASTMA official and the money he was caught with has been handed to LASTMA authority for prosecution while the police will charge the impersonators to court.  

However, the six policemen will have to stand trial at the Provost Department of the Nigerian Police with 17 others and if they are found guilty, may be discharged from the service.