A 45-year-old suspect, Mr. Adewunmi Taiwo, has confessed to earning at least N750,000 monthly from unsuspecting motorists by posing as an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). Taiwo was apprehended on Oshodi Bridge during a sting operation and has since been detained.
According to LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, Taiwo had been using a white Hiace Coaster Bus with registration number KJA 724 YJ to impersonate LASTMA officers, intimidating and extorting money from drivers, particularly on busy routes like Ikorodu Road and the Oshodi-Mile 2 Expressway. A search of his vehicle revealed an official LASTMA uniform and a branded raincoat, further confirming his impersonation.
During interrogation, Taiwo admitted to collecting between N15,000 and N25,000 daily from unauthorized activities. He explained that he targeted high-traffic areas to extort both commercial and private motorists. LASTMA’s Surveillance and Monitoring Unit acted after multiple reports of extortion linked to the suspect’s vehicle.
Bakare-Oki emphasized LASTMA’s dedication to maintaining its integrity and issued a stern warning to individuals impersonating agency officials for personal gain, stating, “Any attempt to tarnish the agency’s reputation will be met with the full force of the law.” The suspect will face appropriate legal charges