Hoodlums Invade Lagos-Ibadan expressway traffic, extort motorists

Hoodlums Invade Lagos-Ibadan expressway traffic, extort motorists

The gridlock currently being experienced by motorist at the Longbridge, Ogun State end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway due to ongoing construction has created an avenue for louts to make money.

THECONSCIENCEng correspondent observed on Monday that a group of boys dug a tunnel under the Longbridge to enable motorists and commercial drivers to beat traffic on the road.

Road users had to drive through the tunnel, which was at the beginning of the bridge inward Lagos.

With the tunnel, motorists connected to an untarred road at the Warewa area and drove against traffic towards Berger, Lagos State.

Although the tunnel was flooded, there was a pumping machine and a pipe which, according to a commercial bus driver, was used to drain some of the water to ease the movement of vehicles.

The louts, numbering about six, were seen directing motorists into the tunnel while also demanding money before granting them passage.

Some of them were seen smoking a substance suspected to be hemp and also drinking alcohol from sachets.

They declined the request of our reporter for an interview, saying they were busy as they continued taking tolls from users of the passage.

One of them dragged the shirt of a bus driver while the bus was in motion for refusing to pay.

While speaking in Yoruba, he said, “Give me money. Or do you think you can pass through this tunnel without paying?”

A banner placed on the side of the bridge where the tunnel was, read, “Please, kindly assist with any amount. And may God bless those that make it work. Thanks. (Underbridge Management).”

The hardship being experienced for weeks now by commuters plying the lagos-Ibadan expressway  seems to have no end date as they continue to lament about the traffic on the road, which is being reconstructed by Julius Berger Nigeria Limited.