Serious Drama As Driver Attacks LASTMA Official With Machete

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Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, the General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), yesterday warned people attacking officials of the agency to stop or face prosecution.

According to him, the state government would no longer tolerate any act of assault, physical attack or attempted murder on any official working for the government, especially LASTMA officials.

He spoke on the attempted murder of a LASTMA Traffic Manager Victor Awotola by a mini-bus driver in Ojodu-Berger.

Oreagba said the Zuzuki commercial mini bus (Korope) driver marked KJA 953 YE, Ibrahim Yusuf, attacked Awotola so as to escape being apprehended for a traffic offence.

Yusuf, he claimed, was causing obstruction around 3.30pm on Saturday, after refusing all entreaties to move away from the place.

“At this juncture, the driver disappeared only to reappear unexpectedly with a big knife with which he cut Awotola’s head and neck; he escaped afterwards 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 produced Yusuf at the Ojodu Police Station where he is currently cooling his heels in detention, awaiting arraignment in court,” Oreagba said.

While urging road users to be law-abiding, Oreagba said “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, said that the suspect would be charged with attempted murder as the state government will diligently prosecute the case to a logical conclusion.