7th June, 2013
Officials of the Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit have arrested 46 suspected touts collecting illegal dues from commuter bus drivers outside motor parks.
They were arrested on Ikorodu Road, between Mile 12 and Agric Bus stop area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, while engaging in the illegal act.
Some of those arrested were said to be members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, who collected dues from commuter bus drivers outside their motor parks.
The taskforce officials used under-cover vehicles while carrying out the operation to rid the state of touts who collect dues outside motor parks.
Taskforce Chairman, Bayo Sulaiman, Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, said a knife was recovered from one of the touts a warning that collection of dues outside motor parks must stop.
“They should stop collecting illegal dues from commercial vehicles outside the parks. They left the road before and are now back and we shall go after them,” he said.
Those arrested were charged to the Special Court in Alausa in accordance with the laws of the state.
Those convicted were sentenced to 50 hours community service, such as cleaning drains, sweeping the toilet and some places, which they would carry out today at Oshodi.
The Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012 prohibits collection of dues by unions and others outside their motor parks.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga