Lagos – Hoodlums operating along the 1004–Lekki-Epe Expressway (also referred to as the 1001 Lekki-Epe corridor) allegedly disconnected the brake power hose of a moving truck on Thursday after the driver refused to pay an illegal levy, endangering the driver and other road users.
A video shows a blue articulated truck navigating the busy road amid interactions with several men. The footage captures the truck manoeuvring dangerously near other vehicles, with individuals climbing or positioning themselves around it.
The truck appears to lose control or struggle, nearly colliding with nearby cars in the vicinity of high-rise buildings and traffic along the expressway. Text overlays on the video describe the incident as the truck driver almost crashing into vehicles while hoodlums insisted on collecting money.
According to the post accompanying the video, the perpetrators disconnected the brake power hose specifically because the driver declined to pay their demanded “settlement.” This action is said to have compromised the truck’s braking system while it was in motion, creating a serious risk of accident on one of Lagos’s busiest transport corridors.
The Lekki-Epe Expressway has long been a hotspot for such activities by groups commonly referred to as area boys or agberos. Motorists and residents have repeatedly reported extortion, harassment, and attacks on vehicles, particularly during peak traffic hours.
In some documented cases, hoodlums have been accused of creating artificial bottlenecks, damaging vehicles when drivers refuse to pay, and tampering with trucks—including cutting brake air hoses—to immobilise them and demand money.
Similar incidents have been highlighted in reports from earlier in 2026, with authorities conducting occasional arrests, yet complaints about the persistence of the problem continue.
The latest video has drawn public concern online, with users questioning the effectiveness of policing along the route and calling for stronger action against the dangerous trend.
No immediate official statement from the Lagos State Police Command or other security agencies regarding this specific incident was available at the time of writing. Police have previously conducted operations targeting traffic-related crimes and hoodlum activities on the expressway, including arrests of suspects involved in extortion and robbery.
Road safety advocates and haulage operators have previously linked such interference with truck systems to broader risks, including container falls and collisions, urging authorities to address both the criminal elements and related factors like road conditions and vehicle maintenance.
The incident underscores ongoing challenges with informal levies and street-level crime on key Lagos arteries that serve residential, commercial, and industrial areas in the Lekki Peninsula. Authorities have yet to confirm details of any investigation or arrests related to this particular event.
About the Author
