By; RAYMOND TEDUNJAYE, Lagos.l
No fewer than 19 suspected notorious hoodlums were on Tuesday, apprehended in Lagos over collection of illegal dues from illegally parked vehicles.
The suspects, who were arrested by operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) also impounded a total number of 123 vehicles parked illegally around bridges across Lagos Island.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the agency, Adebayo Taofiq hinted that the exercise was in continuation of a general enforcement operations to unlock every traffic bottleneck across the state.
According to the statement, the General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki who led the combined enforcement team with security personnel disclosed that the exercise was carried out based on the directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation Hon. Sola Giwa.
Mr. Bakare-Oki disclosed further that the Agency swung into action after several warning issued to both private and commercial bus drivers to stop indiscriminate parking/illegal garages around bridges was not complied with.
He confirmed that these 123 vehicles were impounded around Ebute-Ero by Idumota Bridge, Simpson bridge, Apongbon under Bridge and Elegbata area of Lagos Island.
According to the Geneeal Manager “It was nauseating seeing these private and commercial bus drivers constituting public nuisance by parking at free will around bridges thereby causing avoidable gridlock and inconvenience to other motorists and road users using these Bridges to link up with other parts of the State”
“We will continue to ensure free flow of traffic by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown on these stubborn private and commercial bus drivers,”
Meanwhile, 19 notorious hoodlums were arrested during enforcement operation over illegal collection of parking dues from innocent motorists.
Investigation revealed that these arrested 19 notorious hoodluns impersonated themselves as approved government agents with fake identity cards to extorts innocent motorists including illegal traders who sells by road sides.
The General Manager however disclosed that owners / drivers of these 123 contravened vehicles including 19 arrested hoodlums would be prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.
