Lagos transport workers protest extortion, harassment by soldiers

Transport workers in some parts of Lagos State have raised the alarm over alleged continuous harassment and extortion by officials of Operation MESA.

OP MESA is a joint internal security operational platform made up of 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 move around their parks in branded pick-up vans to carry out the act.

According to them, the military men who were always armed often threatened to shoot their members if they delayed in providing the money.

Some of their leaders who spoke to According Metro said efforts to escalate the development to authorities had yielded no result.

A leader in one of the parks who identified himself simply as Alhaji Tafa said, “This is not the first time we are raising the alarm over the activities of these OP MESA officials across our parks but the state authorities don’t seem to care. They come and forcefully collect money from us at least twice a day. They also come with their vans and rifles, demanding money from us. When we complained about them, they stopped bringing their vans. They park them somewhere and come on motorcycles to conceal their identities.”

The middle-aged man said after a while, they started to bring their vans again and they became more violent.

Another executive member who asked not to be named for security purposes said their actions had compounded the harsh economic conditions of the transport workers.

He said, “We have had cases where our members may not have earned much after resuming work, but once the OP MESA officials arrive, they care less about that.”

They want money, and while we try to explain to them, they start to harass us, insisting that we must provide the money even if it takes borrowing it. That is very unfair. We yield to their requests because of the guns they carry because we have heard of cases where some got killed by them. ”

It was gathered that the military men 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.

While calling on the authorities to take active steps, a tricycle rider said their action might lead to the breakdown of law and order if not quickly curtailed.

He said, “All we want from the state and military authorities is to listen to our outcry and not allow this situation to go out of hand.”