The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit has arrested two suspected members of the notorious Omotaku street syndicate during an operation along the Oshodi–Agunlejika–Apapa Expressway.

Chairman of the Taskforce, Adetayo Akerele, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued through the agency’s spokesperson, Raheem Gbadeyan. He said the suspects were caught while allegedly extorting money from a stranded motorist whose vehicle had broken down on the busy highway.

According to Akerele, the operation was triggered by intelligence from a civic group, ICU – To Soul a Soul, which had raised alarm over persistent harassment of motorists in the corridor. Acting on the tip-off, operatives of the Taskforce moved in and reportedly met the suspects in the middle of an extortion attempt.

Akerele explained that the men initially tried to pass themselves off as a bystander and a legitimate revenue collector. Further checks, however, allegedly revealed that both were well-known Omotaku operatives who had repeatedly escaped arrest and were already on the agency’s watchlist.

He disclosed that one of the suspects confessed that their targets were mainly trucks and vehicles conveying goods from Apapa Port that developed mechanical faults along the expressway. The suspects allegedly posed as government-sanctioned revenue agents, claiming they were protecting motorists from rival gangs while threatening to impound vehicles that did not “settle” them.

The second suspect was said to have admitted that his role was to block access to vehicles and intimidate drivers, creating panic and forcing them into negotiations.

Akerele stressed that the Taskforce is determined to dismantle such criminal networks that exploit Lagos’ traffic challenges and the vulnerability of motorists. He assured residents that the two suspects are in custody and will be prosecuted in line with existing laws.

He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity around broken-down vehicles or informal “revenue” demands on highways to the Taskforce or the nearest police station, warning that the state would no longer tolerate criminality disguised as enforcement.