Police arrest fake revenue collectors in Lagos

By DEBORAH AKPEDE

The Police Command in Lagos State has arrested four men for allegedly extorting motorists and posing as officials of the disbanded Lagos State Committee on the Removal of Abandoned Vehicles (RAVC).

The command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

It noted that the suspects, Taiwo Falodun, also known as Biggy, 48; Olaniyi Adedire, 42; Femi Osunkoya, 53; and Olalekan Edu, 51; were arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

“Two of the suspects, Adedire and Osunkoya, were apprehended yesterday after impounding the vehicle of a motorist for changing lanes at Alausa.

“The motorist stated that the suspects took her vehicle to a park in front of the Elephant Cement House, where she was asked to pay N50,000 as fine.

“She, however, reached out to friends, who contacted the Rapid Response Squad (RRS),” the statement said.

The statement stated that the RRS arrived at the scene and apprehended the suspects.

“The RRS arrived at the scene promptly, arrested the suspects and commenced preliminary investigations.

“While investigation was ongoing, their leader, Falodun, came along with a government official, identified as Olalekan Edu, to solicit the release of the arrested suspects. They were both arrested too.

“RRS fingerprint records showed that Taiwo Falodun and Adedire Olaniyi were once arrested in 2020, for extorting a university professor, while posing as Local Government officials on the LASU-Igando Road,” it stated.

It noted that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, had directed the Commander RRS, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, to charge the suspects to court, at the conclusion of investigations. (NAN)