Lagos Task Force Under Fire For Invading Residential Estate, Seizing Motorcycles, Demanding N1.6million For Release
In a statement dated October 3, CDWR alleged that Task Force operatives stormed Shomorin Street, off Union Road, around Cement Bus Stop, Dopemu, on September 25 and impounded the motorcycles. The group said the residents were not riding on an expressway or any restricted route when the motorcycles were seized.
The Campaign Democratic and Workers Rights (CDWR) has accused the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, popularly known as the Task Force, of invading a residential street in Dopemu and seizing four motorcycles belonging to residents.
In a statement dated October 3, CDWR alleged that Task Force operatives stormed Shomorin Street, off Union Road, around Cement Bus Stop, Dopemu, on September 25 and impounded the motorcycles.
The group said the residents were not riding on an expressway or any restricted route when the motorcycles were seized.
According to CDWR, three of the motorcycles have registration numbers PKA-520QM, AKM-691QL and LAR-987VF, while details of the fourth motorcycle were unavailable.
The organisation alleged that when the owners went to the Task Force office in Oshodi to recover their motorcycles, they were allegedly asked to pay N400,000 for each motorcycle.
This, according to the group, amounted to N1.6million for the four motorcycles.
The CDWR National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Bosah, described the alleged seizure and demand as an abuse of power and called for the immediate release of the motorcycles.
The group said the incident represented a departure from the Task Force’s stated enforcement focus on restricted routes.
The Task Force has in recent weeks intensified enforcement against commercial motorcycle operations on highways, bridges, Bus Rapid Transit corridors and other restricted routes.
The Task Force Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, said in September that the agency would intensify what he described as lawful enforcement against Okada operations on restricted routes, street obstructions and other activities that threaten public safety.
In August, the agency also said it had impounded 66 commercial motorcycles during an enforcement operation across parts of Lagos Island, alleging that the operators were riding on restricted routes.
However, CDWR alleged that the task force was now extending its operations into residential streets.
“This appears to be a new tactic,” the group said, alleging that after public criticism of the agency’s activities on highways, its operatives had moved into community streets to seize motorcycles and vehicles.
The group also linked the alleged incident to the wider economic hardship faced by residents, citing high fuel prices, housing costs, education and healthcare expenses.
CDWR demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the four motorcycles and an end to what it described as the invasion of community streets to seize residents’ vehicles.
It also called on the Lagos State government to summon Akerele and his officers to explain the operation and take disciplinary action against any operative found to have unlawfully impounded the motorcycles.
The organisation further demanded a transparent investigation into the alleged N400,000 payment requested for each motorcycle and accountability for anyone found to have extorted the residents.
CDWR warned that continued incidents of this nature could lead to resistance by affected communities and urged the Lagos State government to intervene.
The Task Force has previously defended its enforcement operations, saying it acts on complaints, intelligence and petitions concerning activities it considers to violate Lagos State laws.
In September, the agency also urged members of the public to report anyone demanding money in its name.
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