Commuters plying the Agbara/Igbo-Elerin/Okoko/Iyana Iba route were, yesterday, stranded, as some commercial drivers protested against alleged harassment and extortion by personnel of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, aka Task Force.
The drivers, who carried placards with various inscriptions like ‘End Task Force wahala’ and ‘End Task Force in Lagos State’, prevented commercial vehicles and trucks from taking one way at Church bus stop, Ojo, along the Badagry expressway.
The Chairman, Shuttle Bus Drivers Association, Ojo chapter, Richard Adeboyega, said: “The road is under construction and, before now, we had a turn at Afro, another at Okoko, but the construction company has blocked the turns.
“Drivers plying Agbara to Igbo-Elerin/First Gate had to drive to Ojo barracks before they can find a turn and drive back. When they take one way, officials of the Task Force impound our member’s buses. We pay between N100,000 to N150,000 to recover our vehicles when impounded. The officials collect cash and they don’t issue receipts.
“We are calling on the government to intervene. The construction company should open the middle lane to enable drivers to connect the turning at Afro bus stop or the taskforce should stop extorting us till the construction is done.”
Explaining what led to the protest, yesterday, Vice Chairman of the association, Chibuzor Nwabueze said: “They impounded 15 vehicles which they have taken to their office at Alausa behind Shoprite. Last week, they impounded over 30 vehicles.
“Officials of the Task Force are extorting us. Our travails started after the turning at Afro bus stop is blocked by the construction company, without creating an alternative for drivers going to Igbo-Elerin/First Gate.”