Police Nab Extortion Suspect Targeting Truckers in Lagos

By Saheed Olatunji, Reporter

 To stop “Area Boys” from extorting truck drivers, the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the Nigeria Police launched a joint sting operation against illegal toll collection in the Alakija area of Lagos

The raid led to one arrest, and the suspect is now being questioned..

Following a disturbing series of complaints from maritime truck drivers about repeated harassment, intimidation, and illegal demands by local criminal elements, AMATO Public Relations Officer Mordecai Adekambi stated that the group had to take action.

“For a long time, truckers have raised concerns about the activities of these undesirable elements, who allegedly hide under the names of various transport unions, including RTEAN and NURTW, to create an appearance of legitimacy while subjecting members of the maritime trucking community to extortion and harassment.

“It is particularly important to state that these activities have not been authorised or sanctioned by the recognised leadership of the unions whose names are being invoked. Indeed, the leadership of both RTEAN and NURTW have, on various occasions, distanced themselves from such illegal activities.

“The situation, however, reached a breaking point after about five separate attacks and extortion incidents involving maritime truck drivers were reported within just two days.” Mordecai stated

He explained that the continued victimisation of AMATO members is unacceptable, immediately moved to confront the situation.

He said:”Rather than allowing the matter to degenerate into confrontation between truckers and street urchins, the AMATO Chairman escalated the matter to the appropriate security authorities. The Area Commander of the relevant Police Area Command and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, were contacted, leading to the activation of a coordinated security operation.

“The resulting sting operation was personally led by the leadership of the association working in close collaboration with senior Police authorities and tactical personnel.

“The operation ultimately paid off, with one of the alleged perpetrators apprehended and handed over to the Police for investigation and prosecution in accordance with the