Task force disassociate personnel from report on extortion of motorists

By Christopher Oji

The  Lagos State Task Force has described as misleading a report circulating on the social media alleging that its personnel were collecting bribes from motorists.

A viral video published by an online platform, Objectv had alleged that personnel of the agency were extorting money from motorists across the state but, in a swift reaction, the agency said the claim was entirely inaccurate and lacked any factual basis.

In a statement yesterday by Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Task Force, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, he explained that, “It must be clearly and unequivocally stated that Mr. Adewoye’s failure to properly assess his immediate environment, coupled with his unscientific and unprofessional approach to reporting, demonstrates a troubling tendency to disseminate misinformation in an attempt to influence public opinion.

“If due diligence and basic analytical scrutiny had been applied,Adewoye would have readily distinguished between a regular police officer and an official of the Lagos State Taskforce.

“Unfortunately, his repeated misjudgments reflect a lack of sound analytical capacity and professional responsibility.This is not an isolated incident. In a previous report, he erroneously identified personnel of the Lagos State Taskforce as members of the LAMATA BRT Monitoring and Enforcement Unit—further evidence of a pattern of inaccurate and misleading reportage.

“While it is acknowledged that the Lagos State Taskforce includes police personnel, the Agency maintains a distinct dress code that clearly differentiates its officials from conventional police officers. The individual shown in the viral video was dressed in an all-black uniform, which is inconsistent with the Taskforce’s official attire.

“For clarity, Taskforce officials are dressed in black-on-denim uniforms and are equipped with uniquely designed jackets bearing the inscription “Taskforce” prominently on both the front and back. Additionally, these jackets carry identifiable serial numbers and the official insignia—a dragon with an eagle wing. None of these distinguishing features were present in the video in question.

“ In the  light of the foregoing, it is both reckless and unjustifiable to associate the Lagos State Taskforce with the alleged misconduct or to attempt to tarnish the Agency’s hard-earned reputation.

“It must also be emphasized that Objectv’s style of reporting, often devoid of proper investigation and verification, raises serious concerns. These repeated attacks appear to be motivated by the Chairman’s firm stance against granting waivers to some of his associates and clients who violate the State’s traffic laws.

“The Agency remains committed to enforcing the law without fear or favor—there is no longer any room for impunity.

“The Lagos State Taskforce remains steadfast in the execution of its mandate under the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, working diligently to maintain order and ensure the safety of all road users.

“Members of the public are hereby,advised to disregard the false and misleading video report linking the Lagos State Taskforce to the alleged incident.”