BEVERLY HILLS, January 13, (THEWILL) – Commercial drivers on Wednesday embarked on protest against alleged extortions by officials of the Lagos State task force.
The protest left many passengers stranded along Agege-Ogba-Berger axis of Lagos.
Some of the drivers held weapons in a bid to resist further arrests.
They also attacked their colleagues who attempted to convey passengers and dislodge others.
The protesters barricaded the road at the popular Omole junction in Ikeja, the state capital.
Spokesman for the Lagos State Task Force, Mr Taofeek Adebayo, reportedly denied the allegation that the commercial drivers were being extorted.
He said, “The fact remains that their protest will not stop the agency from carrying out its statutory functions in enforcing the Lagos State Transport Reform.
“Since the #EndSARS protest, most of the commercial drivers have been driving with impunity across the state. They follow one way, allowing passengers to alight at an undesignated bus stop. No responsible government will allow this kind of thing to continue.
“The enforcement will continue irrespective of their protest. Nobody would have arrested them if they committed no crime. We only impound vehicles of offenders.
“It is high time we separated the operatives of the task force from other enforcement officers. Those arrested by the task force, we charge them to mobile court. It is the court that stipulates your fine. Those extorting them are not our officials. There is no room for cash payment in Lagos State task force.”
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