LAGOS — Operatives of the Lagos State Task Force have arrested a woman identified as Alimat Idowu, popularly known as “Asabi Alagbo,” for allegedly producing and selling fake authorisation stickers to commercial and unpainted vehicle drivers — known locally as kabukabu — to help them evade arrest for traffic violations.
Idowu was apprehended alongside three accomplices, simply identified as Ola, Sanjay, and Aliu, while other members of the syndicate remain on the run.
According to investigations, the group specialised in issuing counterfeit branded stickers to motorists, falsely claiming they provided protection from law enforcement, especially the Lagos State Task Force.
The illegal stickers — which included names such as “Fire (Ina), Olamoney, Sanjay Omo Oga, Dman, 100% 23–24, Psalm 72” and others — were sold to drivers for N15,000 to N20,000 either weekly or monthly, with the promise of immunity from arrest.
Further findings revealed that the stickers featured forged logos of transport unions, fake local government tags, and imitation enforcement emblems, all designed to deceive drivers into believing they had government backing.
“The scheme misled commercial drivers into thinking they were untouchable. When any of them was arrested, they would call a supposed ‘boss’ who tried to pressure officers into releasing the vehicle,” a source within the agency explained.
To crack the operation, task force operatives reportedly went undercover as bus drivers, purchased the stickers, and traced the sellers to their base, leading to the arrests.
Chairman of the Lagos State Task Force, CSP Adetayo Akerele, confirmed the development, noting that the suspects were nabbed in Oshodi, Isolo, Mushin, Apapa, Mile 2, Iyana-Ipaja, Abule-Egba, Ile-Epo, and other key transport hubs across the state.
“This operation is part of our ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks extorting commercial drivers and undermining traffic laws in Lagos,” Akerele stated.
He warned that any vehicle found displaying fake or unauthorised stickers would be impounded, and the drivers compelled to disclose their sources.
Akerele further urged motorists to desist from patronising criminal syndicates and to comply with genuine traffic regulations, stressing that the agency remains committed to restoring order and sanity on Lagos roads.
