Men of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Authority (OYRTMA) have arrested a ring of Impostors for charges bordering on impersonation, forgery and Fraud in Ibadan Southwest Local Government of Oyo state.
According to reports, these impersonators defraud unsuspecting members of public by falsely obtaining cash amounts ranging from ten to thirty-five thousand Naira Only (#10,000-#35,000) for various alleged traffic offences of which they were not authorized to apprehend or penalize defaulters.
The Executive Chairman, OYRTMA, Mogaji (Dr.) Akin Fagbemi while parading these criminals at the Authority’s Headquarter told journalists that the attention of the Agency had been drawn to multitude of public complaints and petitions regarding the illegal activities of the impersonators who were reportedly working under some unauthorized local government officials.
According to Dr. Fagbemi said; “we have received a lot of public complaints and petitions accusing our officers and men of extorting members of the public. We had taken immediate actions including collaborating with other security agencies to arrest any of our Officers found wanton of these allegations. We have equally initiated covert operations unknown to most of our officers to monitor the activities of our men at their respective duty posts.
Speaking regarding the work ethics of his men, Mogaji Fagbemi hinted that none of his officers had been found wanting or proven guilty of taking cash sums from motorists as punitive measures in the State.
“We have however received intelligent reports of the illegal operations of some unscrupulous elements disguising as OYRTMA officials and working under the guise of some local government authorities to extort, steal and inflict pains on members of the public particularly in Ibadan Southwest and Oluyole LGA.”
“It was sequel to these reports that our men and officers earlier today arrested these four individuals who confessed to have been extorting members of the public and forcefully taking their properties away from them including cars, tricycles and motorcycles”.
The OYRTMA boss said that the criminals would be handed over to relevant security authority for justice to be served.
It would be recalled that on the 26th of February, 2021 in a press release, the Authority had distanced itself from the illegal activities of these impostors and promised to fish them out to face the full wrath of the law.
The OYRTMA boss concluded by saying; “The Engr. Seyi Makinde led administration would not condone any of such act that is inimical to the well-being of the good people of Oyo State.”
