Police in Lagos State have arrested one of their extortionist officers, his counterpart from the Federal Road Safety Corps, and one of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority officials working in cahoots with thugs.

According to SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the state police spokesman, they were captured with their group of 14 thugs between Friday and Saturday in the Mile 2 area of the state.

Mr Hundeyin stated that the arrests were carried out in an operation led by the deputy commissioner of police (Operations) in the state, Fatai Tijani.

He added that the commissioner of police in Lagos state, Idowu Owohunwa, set up a task force, which conducted the operation following reports of incessant extortion of motorists by thugs and some recalcitrant law enforcement officers.

“Determined to check escalating cases of extortion on the highways, CP Idowu Owohunwa, set up an enforcement team with the mandate of raiding spots that have been identified as notorious for such nefarious activities.

“The enforcement team, which began raids on Friday, was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) and comprises tactical teams and provost officers from the state headquarters.

“The team was at Mile 2 area of the state, a hotbed of brazen extortions,’’ Mr Hundeyin stated.

He quoted Mr Owohunwa as warning that any law enforcement personnel, irrespective of agency, found complicit in extortion racketeering would be arrested and dealt with in accordance with the law.

“The CP promises motorists that the enforcement team will sustain the raids and replicate them in other parts of the state until total sanity is restored.”

(NAN)