A commercial bus conductor allegedly stabbed a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer with a screwdriver during a traffic enforcement operation at Ile Epo Market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway on Monday.
The suspect has been arrested and handed over to the police.
The incident occurred as LASTMA officials were carrying out routine traffic management duties and impounded a commercial Volkswagen bus for allegedly causing obstruction along the busy Ile Epo Market corridor on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
According to reports, the driver of the bus and a passenger resisted the impoundment, leading to a confrontation. During the altercation, the bus conductor allegedly produced a screwdriver and stabbed one of the traffic officers.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Monday.
He said the conductor, identified as Lekan Olasunkanmi, had been arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation.
“The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has strongly condemned the violent assault perpetrated against one of its officers by a Volkswagen commercial bus conductor during a routine traffic enforcement operation at Ile-Epo Market, inward Abule-Egba, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway,” Taofiq said.
He explained that the patrol team had apprehended the commercial bus, with registration number LSR 989 XG, for obstructing traffic when the driver resisted the lawful enforcement process.
“In a shocking escalation of events, the vehicle’s conductor, later identified as Mr. Lekan Olasunkanmi, armed himself with a screwdriver and violently attacked a LASTMA officer, inflicting a stab wound during the altercation.
“The injured officer was immediately evacuated to a nearby medical facility where he received urgent medical attention and is currently responding positively to treatment,” he added.
Taofiq further disclosed that the matter was reported at the Abattoir Police Division, where the suspect was taken into custody for investigation and possible prosecution.
During preliminary interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to bringing out the screwdriver and confessed that he mistakenly stabbed the LASTMA officer during the confrontation.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the growing trend of attacks on traffic management personnel while carrying out their official duties.
He warned that the Lagos State Government would not tolerate assaults, intimidation, harassment, or attacks on its officers.
“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 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,” Bakare-Oki said.