Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, General Manager of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), has stated that the agency will no longer tolerate any act of assault, physical attack, or attempted murder on any government official, particularly LASTMA officers.
The perpetrators of such misdemeanors, he said, would face the full wrath of the law from the state government.
Oreagba made the statement in response to the “attempted murder” of a LASTMA officer, Traffic Manager Awotola Victor, by a Zuzuki commercial mini bus driver (Korope) with registration number KJA 953 YE, Ibrahim Yusuf, on the Ojodu-Berger-Ogba axis.
Victor was stabbed while attempting to apprehend Yusuf, who was causing obstruction, alongside the patrol team around 3.30pm on Saturday, February 12, 2022.
General Manager stated that assaults on government officials while performing their lawful duties “are becoming too common, and the government is ready to put a stop to this through diligent prosecution of such person(s), no matter how high placed in society.”
He stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday by Asst. Director, Public Affairs LASTMA, Olumide Filade, titled ‘LASG will no longer tolerate assault on government workers – LASTMA general manager.’
The statement read, “According to reports received on the incident, Yusuf, the mini bus driver and offender, was noted to be causing willful obstruction at River Valley Estate and after refusing all entreaties to move away from the place, the vehicle was to be apprehended. At this juncture, the driver disappeared only to reappear unexpectedly with a big knife with which he cut Awotola’s head and neck, whilst he escaped afterward with the aid of the street urchins around the area but his vehicle was apprehended and its custody taken by the agency.
“On Sunday, one of the chairmen of the minibus association/union produced the attempted murderer at the Ojodu Police Station where he is currently cooling his heels in detention, awaiting arraignment in court.”
While urging Lagos road users to be law-abiding, Oreagba stated that “Any road user that violates the State Traffic Law as stated in the amended Lagos Transport Reform Laws of 2018 and in line with the state government first pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda will have themselves to blame for committing assault on any government official.”
The Legal Director of LASTMA, Kehinde Akerele, noted that the motorist would be charged with attempted murder.