Lagos transport workers protest alleged extortion by soldiers

Some transport workers in Lagos State who raised the alarm over alleged continuous harassment and extortion by officials of Operation MESA in some parts of the state lamented to PUNCH Metro on Monday that the activities of the soldiers persisted.

OP MESA is a joint internal security operational platform comprising the Nigerian Army, the Navy, and the Air Force. Facilitated by the Lagos State Government, they operate in synergy with the police in crime fighting across the state.

The transport workers, who comprised tricycle and motorcycle riders in Shasha, Idimu, Ejigbo, and Ikotun areas, said the officials moved around their parks in a branded truck of the Nigeria Air Force to carry out the act.

They had told PUNCH Metro that the soldiers, who were always armed, often threatened to shoot their members if they delayed in providing the money.

Some of their leaders also said efforts to escalate the development to higher authorities yielded no result.

But while speaking to our correspondent on Monday, an executive committee member of the transporters, who pleaded anonymity because he was afraid revealed that the military officials used a number plate marked NAF believed to be owned by the Nigerian Air Force.

The transport worker said, “The OP MESA officials sometimes keep their vehicles at a distance and move around with motorcycles. But they came with their vehicle which had the number plate 658B NAF and marked OP MESA 201 the last time they were here.”

Another executive member of the branch who did not want his name in print due to security reasons urged the authorities to fish out the culprits, having provided some tips on their identity.

“The vehicle that came to our park the last time was marked with OP MESA 040 with two officers in it. If their superiors are indeed not backing them, they won’t go about using a military vehicle to extort us in broad daylight. We are still calling on the authorities to investigate the officials the vehicles were assigned.”

PUNCH Metro reported that the military officials had often manhandled the transport workers in the process, leaving them injured.

Some were also said to have been given different punishments, such as forcing them to lie in the drainage.

The leaders, however, called for quick intervention to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

When PUNCH Metro contacted the spokesperson for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army,  Olabisi Ayeni, on the allegations of the transporters on Monday, he said he would look into the allegation and revert to us.

“The allegation will be looked into, and necessary steps will be taken.”

He could not revert to PUNCH Metro as of the time of filing this report.