Commercial bus conductor attacks, stabs LASTMA officer during traffic enforcement operation
A commercial bus conductor, identified as Mr. Lekan Olasunkanmi reportedly stabbed a LASTMA officer during a routine traffic enforcement operation by a LASTMA patrol team at Ile-Epo Market, inward Abule-Egba, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on the 30th of June. The suspect, who was the conductor of a Volkswagen Commercial bus (LSR 989 SG) that was apprehended for causing severe traffic obstruction at the busy corridor of the Ile-Epo Market, reportedly stabbed a LASTMA official with a screwdriver.
The driver of the vehicle, according to reports, refused to adhere to lawful enforcement procedures, after which the situation escalated suddenly when the conductor armed himself with a screwdriver, and attacked one of the LASTMA officials, leading to the official getting a stab wound. The wounded officer was immediately taken to the nearest medical facility, where he was attended to urgently and is currently responding positively to treatment.
The suspect has been arrested and taken into police custody at the Abbatior Police Division, where the incident was promptly reported for further investigation and possible prosecution. The security preliminary interrogation reveals that the suspect admitted to bringing out the weapon and confessed that the stab was a mistake from the confrontation with the official.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki expressed his concern regarding the increasing hostility and aggression directed towards traffic management officials during the discharge of their duties, stating that Lagos State would not tolerate any form of assault, harassment, intimidation or attack against officers entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining sanity and order on public roads.
According to Mr. Bakare-Oki “Anyone found attacking LASTMA personnel in the course of their lawful duties will face the full weight of the law. Our officers are deployed across the State to facilitate seamless movement of people, goods and services, as well as to ensure strict compliance with extant traffic regulations. Any act of violence against them constitutes an affront to public order and the rule of law and will not go unpunished.”
He advised motorists, commercial transport operators and other road users to follow all traffic regulations as stipulated in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, emphasizing that the cooperation with traffic management authorities remains imminent to achieving a safer, more efficient and more orderly transportation ecosystem.
Additionally, he appealed to transport unions, commercial vehicle operators and road users to continuously educate their members about the importance of remaining respectful towards officials of law enforcement and traffic management.
