The Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee has urged members of the public to remain calm following the circulation of a viral video showing a truck being confronted by a group of individuals in the 1004 area of Lagos.
The committee clarified that preliminary findings suggest the incident was not linked to organised truck extortion but stemmed from a dispute involving two individuals and the truck over an alleged third party liability issue.
In a statement made available to Zoyols News, the Chairman of LASTCOC, Alhaji Shittu Lukman, said those involved appeared to have taken matters into their own hands instead of allowing the issue to be resolved through the appropriate legal process.
Lukman disclosed that the truck at the centre of the incident has been taken to the Maroko Police Station, where the Nigeria Police are conducting a full investigation into the matter.
He explained that he personally initiated inquiries after the video surfaced online because the 1004 area is not among the locations previously identified as hotspots for truck extortion in Lagos State.
According to him, preliminary investigations indicate that the confrontation involved two individuals who allegedly had a third party liability disagreement with the truck. He noted that the disagreement escalated after the parties chose self help rather than seeking lawful resolution.
The committee appealed to truck operators and members of the public not to jump to conclusions while the police continue their investigation into the incident.
LASTCOC also encouraged truck owners and drivers to promptly report any case of extortion, harassment or intimidation to the committee so that swift action can be taken.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a safe, lawful and extortion free operating environment for truck operators across Lagos State while working closely with relevant authorities to address such incidents.
