Residents of Boladale Street, Mafoluku, in the Oshodi area of Lagos State, have reportedly chased away policemen who allegedly extorted money from motorists accused of driving against traffic (one-way) in the community.
The activities of the officers, who were from the Akinpelu Police Station, were said to have led to the destruction of some property in the community, with the latest involving a vehicle belonging to Akima Hotel owned by the Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo.
Motorists connecting Kunle Akinosi from the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway are expected to turn right into Boladale Street, while those who turn left would have to immediately take the right bend into Olaogun Lane to access the community.
However, motorists who should take the right bend unknowingly keep left and drive straight down into the one-way road, which has no signage.
According to residents, the officers, who stay at the other end of the road, arrest such motorists and extort money from them.
Some drivers, who try to evade arrest by reversing their vehicles, however, usually crash into property.
A resident, Sodiq Olaoti, who spoke to our correspondent during a visit, said the policemen waited in two mini-buses (Korope), from where they accosted and chased vehicles taking the route.
He said, “They park close to the other junction of Boladale Street, waiting to arrest people who drive into the road. Once they stop the vehicles, they threaten to take them to the police station. And once they are asked to drive towards the station, they negotiate midway and collect money from them.”
Another resident, Innocent Madaubuchi, said the policemen chased a vehicle on Monday, October 3.
He said, “The car drove into the road but when the driver saw them, he reversed and the police started chasing him. It was while driving on reverse down Boladale Street that he started crushing people’s cars, including a vehicle belonging to MC Oluomo’s hotel. Though he later escaped, residents were angry at the damage and they protested that the police should leave that location.”
Another resident, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the issue, said the cops caused a lot of damage.
He said, “This is not their first time of causing such damage. The fence of the Redeemed Christian Church of God on the road was destroyed by a car they once chased. The youth and the community development association in the area had warned them, but they kept doing it. Sometimes, they fought over whose turn it was to arrest motorists. But this last one they did was why residents asked them to leave and since then, we have not seen them.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, denied knowledge of the incident.
