Lagos Task Force Arrests Five for Highway Extortion

On Monday, the Lagos State Task Force announced the arrest of five suspects for alleged extortion on highways, particularly around Aboru and Abule Egba. The suspects, identified as Alad Olarewaju (25), Oluwadamilare Alabi (38), Sunday Idowu (32), Rabiu Ibrahim (29), and Raji Yusuf (23), were reportedly targeting unsuspecting motorists whose vehicles had broken down.

They would approach these motorists under the guise of offering assistance but instead attempted to extort money. The arrests followed a tip-off to the agency's hotline, leading to an operation that confirmed the suspects' activities.

CSP Adetayo Akerel, the chairman of the agency, noted that the suspects had been on the task force's watchlist due to repeated complaints from the public. They primarily targeted trucks carrying goods and admitted to creating panic among drivers.

The suspects have been arraigned in court on three counts of illegal collection of fees from drivers of broken-down vehicles, which obstructs peace.