Motorists, both private and commercial have cried out to the Oyo State  government on  the illegal imposition of fines over alleged traffic offences by officials of Lagelu Local Government Council of the state.

The fines range from N5000 upwards on motorists and okada riders.

The illegal operatives from the local government area, Saturday Tribune gathered, were assigned by the Council’s Task Force early this year.

According to investigation,  the task force officials who are often strategically positioned on the major Iwo Road federal highway in Ibadan and by the federal government silo facilities opposite Dizengof area, arbitrarily arrest innocent citizens plying the road and extort money from them, threatening to impound their vehicles or motorcycles if they either fail to pay the fine or grease their palms.

The suspected officials  dangle fake identity cards and fine receipts of the local government task force through which, it was learnt, they make more than N50, 000 every day.

the officials  who often resume duty as early as 7:30 a.m  are at their posts  within the local government until 5:30pm  daily excluding Sundays. They have currently extended their operations to Academy area of the city towing vehicles or motor bikes of suspected offenders.

When Saturday Tribune visited Dizengoff, one of the officials, said there was nothing illegal about their operations claiming that they had the backing of the state government which directed them to source for additional internal revenue outside their monthly federal revenue.

But when reminded that enforcement of traffic regulations are restricted to the FRSC, other security agencies and other institutions not local government councils as deemed fit by the federal or state governments, he declined comment.

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