26th February, 2016
Cyriacus Izuekwe
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, has arrested a driver and conductor for allegedly painting their vehicle in police colours in Lagos State, western Nigeria.
Owoseni arrested the suspects who identified themselves as Tunde Sanni, the driver, and his conductor, Sunday Asapo, along 3rd Mainland Bridge, precisely between Adeniji Adele and Olowu intersection in Lagos Island.
According to the police, Owoseni was on routine patrol when intercepted a Faragon bus with registration number, FKJ 205 XB and painted in police colours.
The bus was conveying some passengers before Owoseni flagged the driver down to identify the vehicle and passengers on board.
The driver told him that he was only a commuter bus driver and that the vehicle belonged to him and not a police vehicle.
They were handed over to the police at Adeniji Adele Police Station. The vehicle was also seized as exhibit and kept at the station.
Following the discovery, the Lagos State Police Command has warned the public, especially motorists, against impersonating the police by painting their vehicles in police colours.
The warning was given by the state Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, who noted that apart from painting vehicles in police colours, some also wear police uniforms or even keep police accoutrements on dashboards of their vehicles to give the impression that the were policemen.
Badmos said that the police would no longer tolerate the act.
According to her, investigation also revealed that the impostors hide under the guise of being police officers to commit nefarious acts.