Lagos Taskforce Challenges Objectv to Provide Proof of Alleged Roadside Extortion
The Lagos State Taskforce has strongly refuted allegations made in a viral Facebook video by Objectv accusing operatives of the agency of secretly returning to the roads to impound vehicles and extort motorists, describing the claims as false, unsubstantiated and misleading.
In a reaction to the publication, the agency said the allegations lacked factual basis and failed basic journalistic standards of verification, questioning why the Taskforce would allegedly deploy operatives to roadside traffic enforcement when the agency is already heavily engaged in combating environmental offences, criminal activities and other special operations across the state.
Officials of the agency maintained that the Lagos State Taskforce is not currently involved in routine roadside traffic enforcement operations as alleged in the video, insisting that the report was another attempt to malign the image of the agency and its leadership without credible evidence.
According to the agency, the publication failed to provide critical details necessary to establish the authenticity of the allegations, including the registration number of the allegedly impounded vehicle, the exact location where the arrest was made, where the vehicle was taken to, and whether any prosecution was initiated against the owner.
The Taskforce further questioned the claim that the vehicle was processed through a Mobile Court in Alausa, asking the publisher to produce relevant court documents to support the allegations.
“Which Mobile Court in Alausa handled the matter? Where are the court papers? What is the registration number of the vehicle allegedly impounded? Where exactly was the vehicle towed to?
These are basic questions any responsible journalist should answer before going public with such serious allegations,” a senior official of the agency stated.
The agency also challenged the publisher to link investigators with the owner of the affected vehicle for independent verification of the claims, stressing that the Taskforce remains interested in unraveling the identity of whoever carried out the alleged operation.
Officials argued that impostors and unauthorized enforcement groups have continued to operate in parts of Lagos, often disguising themselves as government operatives to harass unsuspecting residents and motorists.
According to the agency, it was therefore irresponsible for any media platform to hastily attribute the actions of unidentified operatives to the Lagos State Taskforce without proper investigation.
The Taskforce stated that operational reforms introduced under the leadership of CSP Adetayo Akerele Ike have significantly changed the mode of operation of the agency, particularly following government directives restricting activities on BRT corridors and other major traffic routes.
The agency explained that its personnel are now largely focused on tackling environmental infractions, criminal hideouts, illegal trading activities, and special law enforcement operations aimed at maintaining public order and security across the state.
Officials added that modern operational measures, including the use of branded reflective jackets, official identification tags and other distinctive markers, were introduced specifically to distinguish genuine Taskforce operatives from police personnel and other enforcement formations.
According to the agency, the individuals seen in the video allegedly referenced by Objectv reportedly lacked the approved operational identifiers associated with the Lagos State Taskforce, raising further doubts about the credibility of the claims.
The agency also expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of selective attacks and repeated attempts by some online publishers to associate the Taskforce with every controversial roadside enforcement activity in the state without concrete proof.
It warned that such reports, when published without adequate verification, not only damage institutional reputation but also mislead the public and erode trust in legitimate security operations.
The Taskforce stressed that journalism carries ethical responsibilities, especially when reporting on sensitive security and public safety matters, noting that allegations against public institutions should always be balanced, evidence-based and professionally verified before publication.
“Was the matter properly investigated before publication? Was the agency contacted for clarification? Were efforts made to confirm the identity of the officers involved? These are fundamental ethical obligations in journalism,” the official added.
While acknowledging the constitutional responsibility of the media to hold public institutions accountable, the agency maintained that such scrutiny must be objective, factual and devoid of sensationalism or personal bias.
The agency reiterated that it has no involvement whatsoever in the alleged extortion incident and urged members of the public to disregard the publication pending the production of verifiable evidence.
It further stated that if credible evidence eventually emerges identifying impostors or unauthorized operatives carrying out illegal roadside activities in the name of the Taskforce, the agency would collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure those responsible are apprehended and prosecuted.
The Lagos State Taskforce also hinted that it may explore legal options against individuals or platforms found to be deliberately spreading false or malicious publications capable of damaging the integrity of the agency and undermining public confidence in its operations.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, lawful enforcement and public safety, insisting that its current operational priorities remain centered on combating special offences, environmental violations and criminal activities across Lagos State.
Rewrite the headline
No comments:
Post a Comment