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LASTMA Official Set Ablaze By Bus Driver, Conductor In Lagos
the attack left the LASTMA officer with severe burns and caused panic among onlookers in the busy area.
Ikeja , Lagos State– An officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was reportedly set on fire by a commercial bus driver and his assistant, commonly known as a “conductor,” after a confrontation near Cele, along the Mile 2 axis of the city.
The incident took place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, following an attempt by the officer to apprehend the bus for an alleged traffic violation.
According to a statement released by LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the driver of a Volkswagen T4 bus, with license plate number LSD 355 CK, engaged in a violent altercation with the LASTMA official.
“During the confrontation, the driver reportedly doused the officer with petrol before setting him on fire in an attempt to evade arrest. The terrifying act, captured in a video circulating online, shows the intensity of the attack as onlookers react with horror.
He said that the attack left the LASTMA officer with severe burns and caused panic among onlookers in the busy area.
Taofiq explained that the vehicle had been intercepted for violating traffic regulations in the Cele inward Mile 2 area.
“In the course of the arrest, the driver and his conductor erupted into a frenzy, resorting to pouring petrol on LASTMA personnel and engaging in hostile confrontations and physical attacks against officers present.”
“The injured LASTMA officer, who sustained severe burns, was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Taofiq said, “LASTMA reiterates its unwavering commitment to preserving order and ensuring the safety of Lagos roads, as stipulated in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.”
He added that the agency strongly urged all commercial and other drivers to comply fully with traffic regulations and respect the authority of LASTMA personnel, stressing that LASTMA will not condone any form of violence or intimidation and will take firm and decisive action against the culprits.