. . . As area boys demand N24,000 to release each truck 

By Godwin Oritse 

TRUCK drivers attached to the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, have lamented arrest of their trucks by street urchins popularly called Area Boys and taken the trucks hostage until their demand of N24,000 is paid.

Speaking to Vanguard on the development, a member of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners, AMATO, Mr. Lanre Akinbobola, said that the trucks have been held hostage since 7 a.m this morning (Monday).

Akinbobola , also disclosed that the leadership of NARTO has been contacted over the matter but they are yet to respond.

His report to NARTO reads: “I just want to bring to our notice. The area boys at Odogunyan in Ikorodu are still holding trucks hostage. Presently two Ayodele Vistal trucks were held by these area boys; they are demanding for N24,000 from each driver before the trucks can be released”.

Also commenting on the development, Mr. Sani Mohammed, a member of AMATO and the Lagos State Container Operations Committee, LASTCOC, said that the onslaught on the extortion bandits on the port corridor has pushed these criminals to some remote part of Lagos.

Mohammed also said that whenever the activities of the criminals are reported, AMATO in collaboration with LASTCOC and security operatives move in to have them arrested.

He said: “Anytime we get information about their illegal activities, we report to the nearest Police authority before we swing into action and do the needful.

“We don’t take laws into our hands; we have led several sting operations with the help of the tactical unit of the Lagos State Task Force on Apapa traffic in addressing the menace of these hoodlums.

“Before this new incident, we had raided Ikorodu axis and made arrest but we are going to survey the location and plan our strategy in dealing with these criminals once and for all” Mohammed added.