If you are clueless about the existence of these terror boiz, then, you probably don't leave in Lagos state. Not only do they approach you looking like kids, they even start their operation by begging from you or acting as if they had mistakenly bumped into your car just to annoy you and make you loose your temper on them and then, they present their weapons and demand that you give them whatever you have with you (Cash, mobile phones, even ATM cards). 

Saturday Vanguard Editor, Chioma Gabriel was attacked recently by these traffic terrors at Mile 2. But she is already familiar with the modus operandi of their operations, and so, she lost nothing to them. Narrating her experience, she said her driver was going along with the traffic pace when two of the boys banged the door of her car but she and her driver ignored them.They moved to the middle lane and the young men left them quietly after sometime when they refused to wound down the car glass.

Most motorists who ply the Apapa-Oshodi expressway complained of being attacked by these fearless teenage traffic thieves on daily basis especially when the traffic was heavy. One of such motorists who would not want his name mentioned, said he has been dispossessed of his handsets and wrist watches on three separate occasions.

“But my greatest worry remains with the on-lookers who watch helplessly when innocent people were being attacked at the traffic. Nobody seems ready to offer any help or make bold to put resistance to the activities of these hoodlums,”he said.

Another motorist who gave his name simply as Waheed laments that often times, the police patrol truck will be parked close to the place of operation. Yet, these boys go about their dirty business unmolested. Saturday Vanguard investigations showed that these traffic thieves operate from Cococo-nut bus stop down to Mile 2 and from Maza Maza at Festac side to Mile 2 bus-stop as well. At Ketu-Ojota bus stops, the traffic snarl at this axis begins usually at Maryland and stretches to Ketu bus-stop. Again these traffic terrors are always on the prowl looking for victims.

According to Babajide Emmanuel who works at the island, the boys are always at the Ojota end of Ikorodu road by Bata. “You will see them pretending to be waiting for somebody only to swoop on unsuspecting motorists and dispossess them of their personal belongings,”he said. Babajide disclosed to Saturday Vanguard that the traffic terrors began their operations from 8pm when the LASMA and Kick Against Indiscipline boys have closed. “A friend of mine was attacked at the foot of the pedestrian bridge at Ojota when he decided to follow the service lane to beat the heavy traffic at the express,”he said.

A banker, Pascal Igwebuike said he was attacked at Ketu bus stop. “The traffic was indeed heavy on this ill-fated day. We crawled all the way from Maryland to Ketu. I was just thinking of what to do next if the traffic persisted when one young boy accosted me with a brand new razor blade. “Bros, either you give me money or I will tear your face with this blade. “Perhaps, noticing that I was frightened, he also demanded for my handset. I gave two thousand and my handset. The next minute, the young man dashed to the other side of the expressway with his loot smiling,”Pascal said. A commercial bus driver who gave his name as Samuel Adeleke, said traffic robbery has become a ritual at the Ojota-Ketu axis. He, however, named Tipper bus stop, Ketu and Ojota by Bata as some of the hot spots for these fearless teenage traffic thieves.

The commercial bus driver lamented that inspite of the presence of a police station at Ketu bus-stop, these boys still engage in their illicit deals without any harassment. “At a time, the boys went into hiding when the policemen at Ketu attempted to send them packing. But it seems they are back on the road again,”he said. However, several efforts by Saturday Vanguard to reach the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Mrs Ngozi Braide to comment on the issue proved abortive.

Vanguard