The Lagos State Taskforce has denied involvement of its men in the setting ablaze of a commercial bus driver whose vehicle was allegedly impounded.
The Chairman of the agency, Shola Jejeloye, a Chief Superintendent of Police said that at the time of the incident his men were still at the base, saying the accusations were utterly inaccurate and misleading.
According to him, investigations and eyewitness account of people who were present at the scene of the incident had categorically revealed that the driver, identified as Mr. Ayo also known as Eru poured petrol on himself to scare the security operatives from enforcing the traffic law which he violated, adding that luck ran out on him when some of the hoodlums present mistook him for one of the security operatives and set him ablaze.
The taskforce boss further stated that the barbaric act of setting self ablaze, robbing self with faeces, chasing law enforcement officers with urine and other crazy acts were now the new wave of resisting arrest by recalcitrant motorists who had developed the habit and passion for violating the state traffic and environmental laws.
He, however, said that if they are bold enough to be serial law breakers, they should be courageous enough to face the consequences of their illegal actions rather than constituting nuisance on Lagos roads.
Jejeloye further narrated how one Mr. Festus Ugbesia age 40 of Mafoluku area of Oshodi who claimed to be the owner of the bus carried the victim from the scene of the incident down to the agency Headquarters, inciting member of public against the agency that the officials of the taskforce had been fingered for setting the victim ablaze.
He said it later dawned on him that task force had no hand in it when he discovered,’’ That our men and officials were still on the parade ground preparing for the task of the day while the transport department of the agency was still sourcing for petrol for their operational vehicles at the agency headquarters.’’
Jejeloye further stated that, “We have had many instances where impostors carry out illegal activities, mentioning the name of taskforce in the process thereby leading to people pointing accusing fingers at us. We have arrested a few of these impostors and we will keep doing so until they desist from tarnishing the image of the agency”.
He further stressed that not all security operative people on Lagos roads are attached to the taskforce, saying officials of the taskforce are trained, enlightened, educated, professionals and equipped enough to distinguish between traffic offence and criminal offence.
‘’Traffic offence is not a criminal offence, as such, minimal or zero force has to be applied in carrying out the enforcement. Enforcement all over the world is not a tea party and in most cases, it is not people friendly. That is the reason taskforce operatives do not get any support from passers -by during their operations rather what is always obtainable is little truths but massive lies against the agency,” Jejeloye said.
He added that the officials of the taskforce assisted the victim to quickly get medical attention from Lagos State Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) as part of its patriotic act and corporate social responsibility.
