Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Monday broke its silence on the issue of alleged extortion of a 77-year-old man, Mr. Dotun Falua by some thugs in the council area last week.

In a press statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the council chairman, Rasheed Iskilu, the council authority, unequivocally distanced itself from the thugs adding that it does not have traffic enforcement agents or office in and around anywhere in Isolo.

The council fumed at the use of “Council Thugs” by Punch Newspaper in its report about the issue on Saturday stressing that the council does not breed thugs and does not encourage crime and criminality in any manner.

Also in the statement, Iskilu explained that investigation commenced almost immediately into the allegation when the chairman got an idea of it as he revealed that the victim has since been contacted to appear before the committee.

The statement titled, “Alleged feigned ignorance of extortion in Isolo LCDA: facts of the matter”, read in part, “We have noted with utmost concern a newspaper publication calling out the Executive Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Olasoju Adebayo for allegedly feigning ignorance in a matter of unsubstantiated allegation of extortion by taskforce supposedly working for our council.

The said publication captioned; “Isolo LG Feigns Ignorance As Council Thugs Extort Septuagenarian, Others” published in Saturday 22nd July 2023 edition of Punch newspaper is inaccurate, false and unfounded to say the least and we hereby say thus:

1. We are not unaware of fact the that enforcing traffic laws and collecting fines for traffic offenses are under the exclusive purview of the state government and our council is very much abreast of the suspension of the M.O.T Taskforce operations. We will like to unequivocally state that the council has no traffic law enforcement agents under whatever name and has no taskforce office in Okota or any other area office in the LCDA.

“2. The condemnable act is most likely to have been perpetrated by unscrupulous elements who are only out to malign the image of the council authority by playing the script of their political lords in the opposition.

“4. Dubbing the perpetrators of this alleged dastardly act “Council Thugs” is an expression we take exception to as the council does not encourage crime and criminality in any form. Pointers to this are the recent donation of a operations/patrol vehicle to local vigilante group, the regular support given to police divisions in the council area and donation of a Hummer Bus to the police Lagos command anti-cultism unit, among others to help in the fight against crime of any sort. There are bad eggs in every society of the world and it is mischievous of PUNCH Newspaper to have tagged the urchins “Council Thugs” after the Council authority had unambiguously distanced itself from them.

“4. It is on record that the council authority swiftly set up a committee to look into the issue immediately the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Damilola Kushimo brought the attention of the Chairman to the allegation after the Punch Correspondent, Gbenga Oloniniran called for an investigation on Monday, 17th July 2023.

“5. The committee, headed by the Supervisor for Special Duties, Evangelist Oluwole Idowu swung to action immediately by launching efforts to unravel the identities of the miscreants and bring them to books.

“6. The supposed victim, Mr. Dotun Falua has been contacted and invited over to help the committee in their investigation.”

The council authority concluded by calling for more caution from media organisations against provocative content that could pitch the people against government noting that it will not be in the interest of the nation. This is as it called for cooperation from the general public and media in apprehending the extortionist

“Finally, we appeal to the management/Editorial Board of Punch Newspaper and other media organisations to exercise caution in dishing out inciteful content about our local council or any other as that will not be in the best interest of the nation. We remain open to any action that could have the bad elements apprehended,” the statement concluded.