A video of a policeman attached to Makinde Station in Mafoluku, Oshodi Wednesday went viral after he was alleged to have used a Point of Sale (POS) machine to extort motorists.
The cop, whose identity was unascertained, was seen at Olowora Street interrogating a motorcyclist with a POS machine on his hands.
But the command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent (ASP) denied the allegation against the cop, insisting that the POS belonged to the motorcyclist’s passenger.
Famous-Cole said the POS was brought out of a bag carried by the passenger during investigation and that when the policeman was convinced by the explanation and documents presented by the owner, he handed it back to him.
Famous-Cole said: “The policeman stopped a motorcyclist for routine check and the ruder had a passenger carrying a bag. He then asked about the bag and its contents. The passenger said a POS machine and some documents were in it.
“The policeman asked how he got the machine and the passenger said it belonged to the company he works with and he had documents to back it.
“After that interaction, he returned the POS, the bag and the documents to the owner and they left.”
In the 30 seconds video, the policeman was seen standing with two persons, identified as a bike rider and his passenger, with the object of focus being POS machine.
The passenger was dressed in green and yellow traditional attire with a brown and white cap, while the bike rider wore a yellow and white T-shirt.
As the transaction was going on, passers-by, especially school children, were seen watching them in bemusement.
Social media users who queried what the policeman was doing with a POS, wondered if he owned a registered business or organisation.
After the one week violence which rocked Oshodi over the death of Rasaq Bello, aka Hamburger, the Lagos State Government yesterday suspended indefinitely the activities of all National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) branches in the area.
Hamburger was Oshodi Chairman of Motorcycle Operators’ Association of Lagos State (MOALS), an affiliate to NURTW.
The affected branches are LOB A, LOB D, LOB J, Oshodi A, Oshodi B, Oshodi C and Oshodi D.
At a briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Acting Commissioner for Transportation Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi said there would be no collection of tickets/fees from buses operating in the area while the suspension subsists.
During the period, a team of the government officials and security personnel would oversee transport operations in the affected branches, he said.
Elegushi said the action was taken after consultation with stakeholders, adding that the suspension ban would be lifted based on security reports.
The commission said: “For the avoidance of doubt, police investigations are ongoing on the said death and all persons found culpable will be prosecuted in line with the dictates of the laws. It is important to also emphasise that all rumour mongering, insinuations and unfounded/unverified facts should be avoided for the sake of peaceful co-existence. Any escalation of the crisis arising from the ban will lead to government taking sterner actions against the branches where violence is recorded.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the state, Mr Imohimi Edgal, who was at the briefing, said those arrested were being interrogated.
Anyone found culpable, he said, would be prosecuted, adding that the government, the police and stakeholders were working towards a lasting peace.
Edgal added that the report of the preliminary investigation would be out before the end of the week.
Lagos State Chairman of NURTW Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede said the branch was in support of the action, saying the union was consulted before it was taken.
Agbede said: “I like to confirm that the decision of the government to suspend union activities in Oshodi was supported by us. We also want lasting peace in Oshodi and we know that with this decision, people can go about their duties without let or hindrance.
“I am sure if the union had handled the issue of Oshodi, we would have arrived at the same decision to suspend activities for now and I want to urge our members to cooperate with government in its bid to ensure lasting peace.
“Going forward, we have been educating our members on the need to eschew violence and we still want to reiterate it that anyone caught perpetrating violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law.”
Following the violence that led to the death of a leader of Motorcycle Operators’ Association of Lagos State (MOALS) in Oshodi, Alhaji Rasaq Bello popularly known as Hamburger, the State Government on Monday suspended activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in all the seven branches in the area indefinitely.
The affected branches are LOB A, LOB D, LOB J, Oshodi A, Oshodi B, Oshodi C and Oshodi D.
The State Government, in a news conference jointly addressed by officials of the State, the police and NURTW at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, said while the suspension order lasts, there would be no collection of tickets/fees from commuter buses operating in the area.
Addressing the briefing, the State’s Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi said throughout the duration of the suspension order, a team of State Government officials and security personnel would be mandated to oversee and monitor the transport operations within the affected branches to ensure they do not collect any ticket or fees from transport operators.
He said the suspension order was taken after due consultation with all the relevant stakeholders concerning the crisis, and that it would remain in force until peace and tranquility returned to the area, adding that the lifting of the ban would only be based on appropriate security reports.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, police investigations are ongoing on the said death and all persons found culpable will be prosecuted in line with the dictates of the laws.
“It is important to also emphasis that all rumour mongering, insinuations and unfounded/unverified facts should be avoided in the sake of peaceful co-existence.
“Any escalation of the crisis arising from the ban will lead to Government taking sterner actions against the branches where violence is recorded,” Elegushi threatened.
He said as part of the strategies to permanently address incessant crisis arising from activities of transport unions in the State, the State Government has already put in place the Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) through which 5,000 air-conditioned and convenient buses would be injected into the transport sector, adding that the initiative would soon be launched.
Also speaking, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the State, Mr Imohimi Edgal confirmed that some arrests have been made following the crisis and that investigation had started in respect of the violence.
He assured that anyone found culpable in the crisis would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, and that the State Government, in partnership with the police and other relevant stakeholders were working towards a lasting peace.
Edgal added that the report of the preliminary investigation by the police would be out before the end of the week.
On his part, Lagos State Chairman of NURTW, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede said the branch was in support of the decision of government to suspend all union activities in Oshodi indefinitely, saying that the union was adequately consulted before the action was taken.
“I like to confirm that the decision of the State Government to suspend union activities in Oshodi was supported by us. We also want a lasting peace in Oshodi and we know that with this decision, people can go about their duties without let or hindrance.
“I am sure if the union had handled the issue of Oshodi, we would have arrived at the same decision to suspend activities for now and I want to urge our members to cooperate with government in its bid to ensure lasting peace.
“Going forward, we have been educating our members on the need to eschew violence and we still want to reiterate it that anyone caught perpetrating violence would be dealt with in accordance with the law,” Agbede said.
The Lagos State Police Command, on Saturday advised members of the public to disregard false reports of a bomb blast in Oshodi area of Lagos.
The spokesman of the command, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole said in a statement on Saturday that report of the purported blast in the social media was absolutely false.
“We would like to allay the fears of the general public with regards to the falsehood being circulated on the social media in respect of security situation at Mafoluku-Oshodi and environs.
“Oshodi is relatively calm and not boiling as being erroneously peddled. It is mischief and callousness to put people in fear.
“Video footage being circulated to back the false information is that of the bomb incident around Banex Plaza, Abuja in 2014.
“The Lagos State Police Command avail this opportunity to reassure members of the public that we will continue to work in partnership with the good people of Lagos and other Security Agencies to ensure safety and security of lives and properties.
“Always remember to say something if you see something,” the statement added.
Bolade in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State was still unsettled yesterday, three days after the killing of a union leader, Rasaq Bello, aka Hamburger.
Ten commercial vehicles were vandalised following the resurgence of violence at a candle light procession for him.
Hamburger was the Oshodi Chairman of Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS).
Loyalists of the late Hamburger were said to have hijacked the procession, destroying buses belonging to members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). MOALS is affiliated to NURTW.
They also blocked vehicles coming from Mushin, Cappa and Oshodi Under Bridge from passing through Bolade.
There was a traffic snarl, stretching from the Oshodi Under Bridge to Ilupeju bypass.
Policemen were seen later trying to restore normalcy.
•Taiwo flanked by the late Hamburger’s mum, Mrs Bello (left) and his widow, Abolore… yesterday
Also yesterday, Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni and Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Sole Administrator Taoheed Adebayo Taiwo assured residents that Hamburger’s killers would be apprehended and prosecuted.
Owoseni visited the scene of the fracas with the Area ‘F’ Commander Toyin Longe, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP). He also visited the late Hamburger’s aged mother and widow around 4:30pm
Taiwo, who also visited the bereaved family, told the community leaders at the council secretariat that the perpetrators won’t go unpunished.
According to a statement by the council’s Public Affairs Officer, Mr Omotayo Mohammed, the council boss said Hamburger’s murder could not be swept under the carpet.
Taiwo said: “The death of Hamburger is a blow to us and I am assuring you that we have sound police operatives that will apprehend the killer of the great man, a cheerful giver.”
The sole Administrator implored the people to be law abiding and continue to carry out their businesses without fear.
“The Nigeria Police and other security personnel are on ground to deal with troublemakers in the local government,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) yesterday condemned cases of violence during primaries conducted by some political parties ahead of the July 22 council polls.
It’s Chairman, Mr Kola Ajayi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the recorded violence was an embarrassment to IPAC and a threat to grassroots democracy.
Ajayi said the deaths and destruction that characterised some of the primaries meant that some politicians still believe in do-or-die politics.
“We are worried about cases of violence which resulted to deaths and destruction in the primaries of some political parties.
“The development is disturbing as it raises some fear that the main election might record some violence with the way some people are going about politics.
“Look at the case of somebody that was shot dead at Shogunle during a councillorship primary on Monday, we hear that the killer’s mother has been hacked to death as a reprisal attack.
“You ask yourself, what for? I think we should not allow all this to continue. Something must be done to stop it,” he said.
Ajayi said findings by IPAC had revealed that intra-party violence was mostly caused by absence of internal democracy in the conduct of party affairs.
He said the idea of imposing candidates on people was anti-democratic and urged parties to stop the practice.
The chairman said the country’s democracy would not thrive if it remained under the control of godfathers.
He urged politicians to stop using hoodlums for violence as they might end up being victims of the bad practice.
The Police say they are on the hunt for perpetrators of the violence at Shogunle during the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) primaries for councillors in Oshodi, Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the fracas which occurred on May 29 led to the death of the Chairman of the Motorcycle Riders Union in Lagos State, Mr Rasak Bello popularly known as Hamburger.
Police spokesperson, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, said normalcy had since returned to the place and that investigation was on to arrest the perpetrators.
“Normalcy has returned to the place, no more violence, the place is now calm. We are working with those that have useful information on what led to the violence.
“Definitely, there will be eye witnesses, it is just that most of them don’t want to come out as they belong to same party.
“The police have commenced investigation to hunt down the perpetrators of the violence as the command will continue to maintain law and order in the state.
“One life was however lost while another person was injured”, Famous – Cole said.
NAN learnt that Hamburger had gone to observe the primaries at the venue for Ladipo Sogunle ward when he was attacked.
After the winner was declared, some hoodlums invaded the venue in a bus filled with guns and broken bottles.
They shot sporadically and went straight to where Hamburger and his friends were staying and shot into their midst..
NAN learnt that many other persons were injured following the violence which marred primaries at Ilupeju, Mushin, and Ogudu among other places.
Hoodlums yesterday assaulted a trailer driver and his motor boy at Oshodi bus stop for refusing to give them money.
Mr. Sina Odeyale and Lateef Ahmed were coming from Mile 2 and heading for Honeywell Flour Mills in Apapa, around 6.30am when their vehicle developed a fault.
The driver said he took the longer Oshodi route to avoid the perennial gridlock at the Tin-Can area.
Before Oshodi, the street urchins waylaid them around 5.30am at Mile 2 Bus Stop, where two boys jumped into the trailer, with one of them allegedly collecting N10, 000 from the driver before fleeing.
At Oshodi Bus Stop the hoodlums, swooped on them while a mechanic was working on the vehicle.
Odeyale said the hoodlums brandished weapons as they took advantage of the absence of security operatives to molest people.
The hoodlums, he said, ransacked the vehicle and searched their pockets, when they found no money, they descended on Odeyale and Ahmed.
Passersby came to their rescue and took them to a private hospital.
Odeyale said: “They didn’t care to listen to us when we told them that some boys had collected money from us at Mile 2. They demanded for money as if it was their right to do so. One of them asked why we risked our lives plying Oshodi route without keeping their own money aside. When the ‘area boys’ saw us bleeding profusely, they scattered in different directions.”
Human rights activist Michael Adebowale urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to increase security surveillance at flashpoints, especially Oshodi Bus Stop.
“If Lagos must truly become a mega city where people move from one place to another round the clock, the governor must as a matter of urgency, flush out these hoodlums from the state. I have the confidence that the governor will mobilise the security personnel to tackle the problem,” Adebowale added.
Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) operatives yesterday arrested a man described as a fake police officer.
Faith Sunday John, 32, was said to have been parading himself as a police inspector attached to the Ikeja Police Command. The task force said he initially claimed to be a commercial bus driver.
Parading the suspect, task force Chairman Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said he was arrested while extorting money from some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Oshodi.
Egbeyemi said the suspect was caught wearing the police original cardigan and identity card.
Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the cardigan and identity card belonged to his late father, who was an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) before he died last year.
Egbeyemi explained that the suspect who lives 37, Anjorin Street, Shasha, Egbeda removed his late father’s passport from the identity card and re-laminated it with his own passport.
Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) operatives yesterday arrested a man described as a fake police officer.
Faith Sunday John, 32, was said to have been parading himself as a police inspector attached to the Ikeja Police Command. The task force said he initially claimed to be a commercial bus driver.
Parading the suspect, task force Chairman Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said he was arrested while extorting money from some members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Oshodi.
Egbeyemi said the suspect was caught wearing the police original cardigan and identity card.
Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the cardigan and identity card belonged to his late father, who was an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) before he died last year.
Egbeyemi explained that the suspect who lives 37, Anjorin Street, Shasha, Egbeda removed his late father’s passport from the identity card and re-laminated it with his own passport.
A tanker exploded yesterday at Toyota bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa expressway, after crashing into a BMW car.
The tanker spilled its content on the road and caught fire. No life was lost.
The 33,000-litre tanker was said to be laden with diesel belonging to Bovas Petroleum.
A statement by the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) said the tanker marked TUT 258 XA crashed into a BMW car, marked LSD 462 CZ while driving towards Charity bus stop.
“This led to the spillage of the entire content (diesel) thereby leading to the inferno. The accident happened at Toyota Bus stop on Oshodi-Apapa expressway.”
