A journalist, Efe Onodjae, has alleged that men suspected to be members of the Lagos State Task Force attacked him, extorted money from him and damaged his vehicle on the Mile 2 Bridge in Lagos.
The incident reportedly happened around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday as Onodjae was returning home from work in his silver 2011 Toyota Camry.
According to the journalist, he encountered heavy traffic on the bridge when a group of men began moving around vehicles. He said about four of them suddenly climbed onto his car and demanded money.
Onodjae alleged that some of the men were dressed in what appeared to be Lagos State Task Force uniforms, while others were in plain clothes.
He said the men initially demanded ₦20,000 despite his explanation that he had already paid another group of men who had stopped him earlier. When he said he could not provide the money, they allegedly became aggressive and damaged his vehicle, including pulling off the driver’s side mirror.
Fearing that the situation could worsen, Onodjae said he transferred ₦19,000, which was the remaining balance in his account, to the men.
However, he alleged that another group subsequently approached him and demanded money, insisting that the first payment was not for them. Three of the men allegedly entered his vehicle and ordered him to continue driving through the traffic.
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The journalist said friends later sent him about ₦5,000, but the men allegedly refused to accept the money and instead demanded approximately ₦400,000.
Concerned about his safety, Onodjae said he drove towards a military convoy passing through the area. He eventually told a military officer that men were inside his vehicle and were attacking him. The men allegedly jumped out of the car shortly afterwards, allowing him to drive away.
Onodjae later discovered the damage to his vehicle and described the incident as a frightening experience that highlighted the vulnerability of motorists caught in traffic around the Mile 2 axis.
He also said he contacted the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, concerning the incident but had received no response at the time the report was filed.
The allegations had not been independently verified, and it was not immediately established whether the men involved were officially affiliated with the Lagos State Task Force.
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