Lagos State Government has sounded a serious warning about a growing menace: fake officials posing as Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and Task Force agents are extorting money from small business owners across the city. These impostors, often in fake uniforms and with counterfeit documents, target roadside traders, shop owners, and market vendors in areas like Oshodi, Ojota, Ketu, Ikeja, Mushin, and Alimosho, demanding illegal fees and bribes, sometimes even threatening to confiscate goods or demolish property ¹ ² ³.
The government’s alert follows numerous complaints from traders who say they’ve been forced to pay weekly “KAI money” (N200-N500) or hefty sums like N15,000 to N250,000 to these fake agents, often without any receipts. Some victims have lost their goods permanently after paying bribes, while others have been
[2/4, 11:17 PM] Meta AI: *Fake Officials Extorting Business Owners: Lagos Govt Raises Alarm*
Lagos State Government has sounded a serious warning about a growing menace: fake officials posing as Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and Task Force agents are extorting money from small business owners across the city. These impostors, often in fake uniforms and with counterfeit documents, target roadside traders, shop owners, and market vendors in areas like Oshodi, Ojota, Ketu, Ikeja, Mushin, and Alimosho, demanding illegal fees and bribes, sometimes even threatening to confiscate goods or demolish property ¹ ² ³.
The government’s alert follows numerous complaints from traders who say they’ve been forced to pay weekly “KAI money” (N200-N500) or hefty sums like N15,000 to N250,000 to these fake agents, often without any receipts. Some victims have lost their goods permanently after paying bribes, while others have been arrested and taken to court. The state’s Ministry of Transportation, led by Permanent Secretary Olawale Musa, confirmed that several impostors have been arrested in areas like Cele Ijesha Roundabout, Itire, and Ikorodu Bus-Stop, with fake IDs and reflective jackets ⁴ ⁵ ⁶.
Lagos officials stress that genuine LAGESC and Task Force officers are properly identified and operate within legal frameworks. The government has launched aggressive sting operations to arrest and prosecute these fraudsters, urging the public to report suspicious activities via hotlines 09020004000 or 09020009000. The state also promises to continue cracking down on these criminal networks to protect small businesses and restore public confidence ⁴ ⁵ ⁷.
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