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PHOTOS: OYRTMA nabs fake traffic officers extorting motorists in Ibadan, recovers 95 number plates and batteries

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The Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA) in collaboration with security outfits, has apprehended a syndicate of impostors who have been extorting unsuspecting motorists under the guise of traffic enforcement officers.

Speaking during an interview with Journalists in Ibadan on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the Executive Chairman of OYRTMA, Maj. Adesagba Adekoya (rtd), said the agency had been inundated with complaints from residents and road users about the activities of these criminals, who often impersonate OYRTMA officials to carry out their schemes.

“For a while now, we have been receiving numerous complaints from motorists and the good people of Oyo State about the activities of some groups perpetrating mischief in traffic. You may recall the incident on the 9th of last month when a banker was accosted and robbed of ₦85,000 by individuals posing as OYRTMA officials. That was just one of many cases,” he explained.

According to him, OYRTMA, working in conjunction with Amotekun Corps and Operation Burst, launched a decisive operation in Egbeda and Lagelu Local Government Areas to dismantle the syndicate.

“During the operation, we recovered about 95 number plates already seized from motorists, several vehicle batteries ranging from 75 to 150 amps, and fake tickets showing extortion sums as high as N85,000 and N90,000. We also arrested eight suspects in Egbeda, who have since been handed over to the police at Testing Ground for further investigation,” he revealed.

Maj. Adekoya stressed that the sole responsibility of traffic management in Oyo State lies with OYRTMA and not the local governments.

“The full responsibility for traffic management in Oyo State rests with OYRTMA. While local governments can enforce no-parking signs and related matters, they do not have the authority to apprehend vehicles for traffic violations. That is an exclusive function of OYRTMA. Unfortunately, these criminals exploit the confusion to extort innocent citizens,” he said.

He added that unlike the impostors, OYRTMA operates within the law by subjecting offenders to due process.

“When we apprehend offenders, we don’t just hand them tickets arbitrarily. We have a tribunal within OYRTMA where they undergo a judicial process to ensure fair hearing. These impostors simply extort money on the spot. That is why we are determined to flush them out with the help of security agencies,” he assured.

The OYRTMA chairman advised motorists to always demand proper identification before complying with anyone claiming to be a traffic official.

“Our staff have valid identity cards and uniforms. We also created complaint channels recently so that people can report suspicious activities directly to us. Don’t fall into the hands of fraudsters. If in doubt, call our numbers and alert us immediately,” he urged.

Maj. Adekoya further reiterated the agency’s commitment to ensuring a fair and lawful traffic management system in Oyo State, free from illegal harassment and extortion.

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Crime

Police detain officer for firing at moving car in Delta

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A police officer who was filmed shooting at the tyre of a moving vehicle in front of Toscana Hotel along Okpanam Road, Asaba, Delta State, has been identified and detained by the authorities.

The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, sparked outrage after the video surfaced on social media. The video showed the officer firing towards the car as it attempted to drive off.

The act has been widely condemned as reckless and a violation of the rules of engagement on firearm usage in public spaces.

Reacting to the incident in a post on X on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, described the officer’s conduct as “embarrassing, shameful, careless, unprofessional, and unjustified.”

Edafe wrote, “In all honesty, this is embarrassing, shameful, careless, so unprofessional and not justified at all. The Policeman has been identified, detained and will appear before the CP today.”

No casualty was reported as of the time of filing this report.

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Crime

Hit-and-run driver kills Lagos director days before retirement

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A director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from civil service and at her 60th birthday party.

That the woman was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver on Saturday.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident happened when Talabi was crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.

A source in the state civil service, who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised, told our correspondent on Tuesday that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.

“She was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while trying to cross the expressway around the Redemption Camp. Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.

Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on Monday, October 13, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.

The source added that she had printed a card inviting her co-workers, relatives, and friends to the event, which also marked her birthday.

“She was supposed to retire on October 13, but because the General Manager was not around, she then shifted the date to October 22 so he could attend. Invitations had already been printed and sent to colleagues, friends, and family before the unfortunate incident.”

An invitation card sighted by PUNCH Metro indicated that the event was billed to hold at the NERDC Conference Centre, NERDC Road, Ikeja, adjacent to the Fela Shrine.

Meanwhile, The Eagle Online reports that Talabi’s burial arrangements have been announced by her family.

According to information gleaned from a WhatsApp group by the news platform, the wake will be held on October 23, 2025, with the burial service scheduled for October 24, 2025.

Both events will take place at 10, Ore-Ofe Street, Ara Hall Bus Stop, Ibafo, Ogun State.

The spokesperson for LASSRA, Basirat Lawal, did not respond to calls made to her telephone line on Tuesday. A text message sent to her had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.

Similar efforts to reach the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, were futile as she did not pick up calls made to her telephone line. She had yet to reply to a text message sent to her as of the time of filing this report.

Talabi’s death adds to the growing list of pedestrians killed by hit-and-run drivers along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and other major highways linking Lagos and Ogun states.

PUNCH Metro reported in August that a motorcyclist and his passenger lost their lives along the Ago-Iwoye/Ilisan Expressway in the Ijebu area of Ogun State after a truck rammed into their motorcycle from behind and fled the scene.

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Crime

PHOTOS: Nigerian mom arrested for murd£r after 9-year-old daughter d!es in hot car in US

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A Nigerian mother has been charged with murd£r after her 9-year-old daughter d!ed in a hot car in Texas, US.

Gbemisola Akayinode, 36, was arrested on Friday for the murd£r of 9-year-old Oluwasikemi Akayinode after the girl’s de@th was ruled a homicide as a result of hyperthermia (heat stroke), according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez.

Oluwasikemi died on July 1 after she was left in a car for over eight hours on a 99-degree day while her mother went to work at a manufacturing plant in Galena Park near Houston, according to court documents.

When Gbemisola Akayinode parked at work at about 5:45 a.m., she said she left her daughter with food, a rechargeable fan, ice cubes and water, and lowered the car’s back windows down halfway, court documents said. She gave her daughter melatonin and saw her start to fall asleep in the back seat, according to court documents.Nigerian fashion brands

Gbemisola Akayinode said she didn’t check on Oluwasikemi until her shift ended at 1:53 p.m., documents said. When Gbemisola Akayinode reached the car, she said her daughter was unresponsive and blue, and she screamed for help.

Gbemisola Akayinode said she had taken Oluwasikemi to work with her several times previously, including the day before, court documents said. She said she brought her daughter with her because she didn’t have money for day care until her next paycheck, but investigators determined the foreman at her job was paying for day care for her, court documents said.

Officials said in July that they were waiting for the 9-year-old’s autopsy results before deciding if any charges would be filed.

Gbemisola Akayinode is due in court next week.

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