RRS arrests seven suspects using POS machines to extort motorists

…victim arrested for not speeding by suspects

Juliana Francis

Operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Ikeja, Lagos State Police Command have arrested seven suspects, allegedly using Point of Sale (POS) machines to extort unsuspecting motorists.

The suspects were alleged to have posed as local government traffic officers to extort motorists along LASU-Igando Expressway. 

The suspects, who claimed to be on a contract with the Ikotun-Igando Local Council Development Area in Alimosho Local Government Area, were arrested yesterday following a complaint from a victim.

The suspects arrested include; the gang leader, Taiwo Falodun (48), Mukaila Atanda (48), Adedire Olaniyi (40), Chibuzor Eze (26), Akinseye Alex (48), Rasak Eko (50) and Aro Dotun (46).

According to RRS, the suspects, on Thursday, extorted N41,000:00 from the victim for not speeding on the Expressway. 

The victim, according to investigations, was heading towards Igando from LASU when the suspects, operating in a tricycle, forced him to park for not speeding. He was thereafter forced to drive to their hideout along LASU-Igando Expressway.

When the victim was taken to their supposed office, the suspects impounded his vehicle, later compelled him to part with N41, 000. The vehicle was released the following day.

When RRS operatives stormed the suspects ‘office,’ they discovered 15 cars and two commercial buses. These vehicles had been impounded by the miscreants and their tyres deflated.

Some of the victims, which the gang had earlier arrested, described the activities of the suspects as illegal.

One of the victims, who didn’t want his name mentioned, said: “These men collected N30, 000 from me, so as not to tow my car to Badagry, where they said I would have to pay N75, 000.”

Investigations revealed that many private car owners had paid cash and also through POS machine allegedly owned by one of the suspects.

One of the suspects, a dismissed Spy Policeman, Taiwo Falodun, stated that there were three teams operating for Ikotun-Igando LCDA.  He added that they were engaged to work for the Local Government Council on contract.

He noted that the team remits N20, 000 weekly to the Local Council. Recovered from them were payment tickets issued to victims ranging from N25,000 to N75,000. The RRS also recovered a tricycle.