The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, popularly known as the Lagos State Taskforce, has dismissed as false and misleading a social media claim alleging that its officers accosted a truck driver and demanded a permit for the inscription of “TRD” on his vehicle.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the Taskforce said the allegation had no basis in fact.
“The Taskforce wishes to state categorically that requesting or demanding permits for inscriptions on vehicles does not form part of its operational mandate,” the statement read. “Consequently, the Agency has no basis for stopping a vehicle or accosting a driver for the purpose of demanding such a permit.”
The agency also used the opportunity to reiterate that it no longer carries out traffic enforcement duties, following an earlier directive from the Lagos State Police Command.
“Following the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, discontinuing traffic-related enforcement by its personnel, the Agency has ceased the arrest and enforcement of traffic offences,” the statement said, adding that “its operatives are not authorised to stop vehicles for traffic offences or undertake traffic enforcement operations.”
The Taskforce urged members of the public to be cautious before linking the actions of uniformed personnel to its operatives, noting that camouflage-style uniforms are not exclusive to the agency.
“The mere fact that an individual is dressed in a camouflage or similar uniform does not automatically make such a person an operative of the Taskforce,” the statement noted. “Several security and law-enforcement agencies are operating within Lagos State, with distinct mandates and uniforms.”
According to the statement, the Taskforce, led by its Chairman, CSP Adetayo Akerele, remains focused on lawful and professional conduct by its personnel.
“The Taskforce… remains committed to disciplined, lawful and professional enforcement of its statutory responsibilities,” it said. “Operatives have been repeatedly directed to conduct themselves within the limits of their mandate and to uphold the rights of members of the public in the discharge of their duties.”
The agency called on the public and social media users to verify information before making allegations against government institutions.
“The Agency therefore urges the public and social media users to verify facts and properly identify the agency or personnel involved before publishing allegations capable of misleading the public or damaging the reputation of a government institution,” the statement said.
It further stressed: “For the avoidance of doubt, the Lagos State Taskforce did not demand any permit from the said driver for the inscription of ‘TRD’ on his truck and has no operational mandate to do so.”
The Taskforce also encouraged residents to report genuine complaints involving its personnel through proper channels rather than relying on unverified social media claims.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report any genuine incident involving suspected Taskforce personnel through the appropriate channels for proper investigation, rather than relying on unverified claims circulated on social media,” the statement concluded.
