The Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators’ Committee (LASTCOC) said no fewer than 19 hoodlums involved in extorting and assaulting truck drivers, along the Lagos-Badagry Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) corridor, were arrested yesterday.
This is coming after the attack on truck drivers along the Tin Can Island port corridor last week.
The Chairman, LASTCOC, Lukman Shittu, while speaking to newsmen, said the state government’s and police command’s timely and responsive action against the destructive activities of hoodlums on trucking business followed the committee’s call for government’s intervention on the menace.
According to him, the arrested hoodlums would be handed over to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police special Squad.
He said the hoodlums and miscreants were sabotaging the trucking business, causing deaths, injuries, traffic gridlock, accidents and making the Lagos State business environment hostile for local and foreign investment.
“The commendable action of Lagos State Government without an iota of doubt, demonstrates its commitment to promoting ease of doing transportation business in the state and addressing the menace of extortion.
“We also thank the Lagos State Police Command for proving itself as the custodian and enforcer of public peace, orderliness, law and order with its swift action against extortion hoodlums,” he said.
Shittu said LASCTOC was poised on collaborating with government, relevant agencies and stakeholders to achieve the THEMES+ agenda policy of Lagos State government in the area of transportation to enhance trade facilitation, remove extortion hoodlums from the roads.
Others include, seamless evacuation of cargoes, truckers safety on the road, economic growth and prosperity of the country.
