Residents, Motorists Absolve Lagos Taskforce Officials Of Involvement in Opebi Link Bridge Extortions
Residents and regular motorists plying the Sheraton Link Bridge inward Opebi Road in Ikeja have dismissed allegations linking operatives of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Taskforce) Unit to reported incidents of harassment and extortion along the corridor.
The reactions follow recent claims circulating online suggesting that Taskforce officials were stationed around the bridge and adjoining Toyin Street axis, allegedly targeting motorists who make U-turns and compelling them to part with money.
However, independent interviews conducted by ACCIDENT SPY MEDIA with residents, transport operators and private motorists revealed a different narrative, as many pointed instead to the activities of police personnel drawn from various formations.
A shop owner in the area, Mr. Kunle Adeyemi, who has operated along Opebi Road for over a decade, said he had “never seen Taskforce officers mounting routine checks on that stretch in recent months.”
“Those you see stopping vehicles are usually policemen. Sometimes they come in different groups of anti-crime patrol, special teams, and officers from nearby divisions. They change often, but they are clearly not Taskforce,” Adeyemi explained.
Similarly, Mrs. Funke Balogun, a caterer and resident of the Opebi axis, corroborated this claim, noting that enforcement activities around the bridge are mostly carried out by police units from different area commands.
“From what we observe daily, they are police officers, not Taskforce. They operate in patrol vans, and their focus is usually on drivers making illegal turns or alleged traffic violations,” she said.
Motorists who frequently use the route also lent their voices to the clarification. Mr. Emeka Okafor, a commercial driver who plies the Ikeja, Maryland route, recounted his experience.
“I drive through that link bridge at least twice daily. The officers who stop us are from the police, sometimes from Area F, sometimes from other special patrol teams. I have never encountered Taskforce officials there,” he stated.
Another motorist, Miss Zainab Sadiq, who commutes from Allen Avenue to Oregun for work, said while she had witnessed enforcement actions around the bridge, “it is inaccurate to attribute them to the Taskforce.”
“They (officers) often warn against making U-turns at certain points, but the uniforms and vehicles clearly show they are police units. The Taskforce has a distinct mode of operation which is not what we see there,” she noted.
Findings further indicate that officers from divisional commands within Ikeja, including the division with jurisdiction over Opebi, as well as personnel attached to anti-crime and special patrol teams from different police area commands, are routinely deployed to the area for traffic monitoring and security operations.
The accounts align with the earlier rebuttal issued by the Chairman of the Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Adetayo Akerele, who categorically denied any involvement of the agency in the alleged activities. He described the claims as misleading and urged the public to verify information before dissemination.
Akerele emphasized that Taskforce operations are structured, intelligence-driven, and conducted in clearly identifiable formations, adding that the agency does not engage in indiscriminate roadside enforcement targeting motorists.
In a related position, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation also clarified that traffic enforcement responsibilities are shared among designated agencies, and that the Taskforce operates within a defined mandate distinct from routine police patrol duties.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring order and safety on Lagos roads while cautioning against the spread of unverified claims capable of undermining public trust in state institutions.
As concerns over road safety and enforcement persist, residents have called for improved coordination among security agencies and clearer identification of personnel operating along major corridors to prevent mis-attribution and protect road users from unlawful practices.
