By Ebun Sessou
At Agarawu, Oke-arin, Idumota,  market in Lagos Island, touts otherwise known as ‘agberos’ were found in strategic areas where they engaged in their illicit trade of extorting money from unsuspecting Lagosians.

A pregnant woman, Mrs Egberongbe who spoke to Saturday Vanguard disclosed that, her loads were seized for 20 minutes because she refused to obliged their demands.

Ifeanyi, an okada rider in Ojota also lamented the huge amount of money he spends on a daily basis just to be allowed to operate his business

“The money we pay to union is outrageous and I believe government should find solution to this. There are times when we pay N1,500 as levy. If government can take up the responsibility of issuing monthly ticket, I believe everything would be in order. They are only extorting from us in the name of representing union.

Agberos

“They only share the money among themselves as well as enriching themselves through this illegitimate means. We are not happy because they are milking the fruit of our labour. They are all touts.They are not working for government, but ordinary people on the streets who are empowered by some influential people who are connected to some officials in the State Government. After collecting money from us, then they go to a particular office where they share it.

“I have been working for the past five years, yet nothing to show for it”, Ifeanyi lamented.

A man who wouldn’t want his name mentioned said, “Agberos turned all the bus stops into commercial avenues to extort money from commercial bus operators to the extent of physically assaulting those who refuse to comply and part with their hard earned money.

“Agberos surprisingly have the backing of the police. They also collect money on behalf of the police. I once heard an Agbero  tell a bus conductor that he has not paid ‘Askari’ fee. Askari is slang among the area boys to mean the police. Hence they operate and with impunity without molestation from the police because they are partners in crime”.

Interestingly, some Lagosians have turned themselves to professional beggars. They extort money from people inside commercial bus. Some of them claim to be preachers of the word of God who are just released from the prison yard.

One of them is Daniel in his late 30s who claims to be an ex-convict from the Kirikiri Maximum prison. About some months ago, I boarded the same vehicle with Daniel who narrated the story of his life and how he was apprehended some 17 years ago during the late MKO struggle for democracy. From Mile 2 to Orile, Daniel told us how he was converted and received Jesus as his Lord and Saviour alongside some prisoners. Today, he is a preacher of the gospel of Christ.

Unfortunately, I saw Daniel again last Wednesday, when he boarded a bus from Oyingbo to Orile, and in his usual manner, he preached the gospel and prayed for the blessings of God on passengers in the bus.

At the end of his message, he begged for alms, telling the people to assist him with transportation fares, that he was just been released from  Igbosere prison alongside some prisoners and that he would like to go back to his hometown in Osun State.

However, those who were sympathetic with his plight had contributed money for Daniel. He realised a tangible amount of money. But a man who listened carefully to his message was able to decipher that Daniel has joined another faction of agberos who extort money from unsuspecting Lagosians.

Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji has also sent a note of warning to all members and staff of the Assembly that nobody should facilitate or bail any traffic violator caught by traffic agencies in the State.

Ikuforiji who gave the warning at the plenary session said any Honourable found trying to plead for a traffic offender does so at his/her own peril.

He said the new Traffic Law which had been signed into law by the Governor is meant to regulate the activities of motorists especially reckless drivers and also restore sanity on our roads.

“Fellow col
leagues and members of staff of this great House, I want to warn you all not to plead, mediate or appeal to any traffic office to release any traffic offender that violates the traffic law. I know that some members are fond of calling LASTMA officials to seek for release of traffic offenders. Anybody who does this will find him/her self to blame.

“Now to all members of staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly, anyone of you caught violating traffic rules, apart from the sanction or fine which the offender would pay, the House will equally punish the staff”, he warned.

Ikuforiji therefore disclosed that all members will be given a copy of the Law to embark on the enlightenment campaign in their various Constituencies.