Lagos traffic official attacked with knife by bus crew member

A violent incident occurred on Monday when a bus conductor allegedly stabbed a Lagos traffic manager during a routine enforcement operation at Ile-Epo Market, located on the Lagos-Abeokuta Road.

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The General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, disclosed this information in a statement released in Lagos, providing details about the altercation.

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According to Bakare-Oki, the conductor of a Volkswagon commercial bus stabbed a LASTMA officer after the bus was apprehended by a LASTMA patrol team for obstructing traffic at the market corridor near Abule-Egba.

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Bakare-Oki condemned the act, emphasizing that the officer was simply carrying out his lawful duties to ensure unobstructed traffic flow and maintain order on Lagos roadways.

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The General Manager explained that the officer was performing his statutory responsibility, but the driver of the commercial vehicle resisted lawful enforcement procedures, leading to a violent escalation of events.

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In a shocking turn of events, the vehicle's conductor armed himself with a screwdriver and attacked a LASTMA officer, inflicting a stab wound during the altercation, as stated by Bakare-Oki.

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The injured officer received immediate medical attention at a nearby facility and is currently responding positively to treatment, according to Bakare-Oki.

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The incident was promptly reported to the Abattoir Police Division, and the suspect was apprehended and taken into police custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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Bakare-Oki expressed concern over the hostility directed towards traffic management personnel while they discharge their lawful duties, emphasizing the need for respect and cooperation.

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The Lagos State Government will not tolerate any form of assault, intimidation, harassment, or attack on officers responsible for maintaining order on public roads, as stated by Bakare-Oki.

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Anyone found attacking LASTMA personnel in the course of their lawful duties will face the full weight of the law, serving as a deterrent to potential offenders.

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LASTMA officers are deployed across the state to facilitate smooth movement and ensure compliance with traffic regulations, and any act of violence against them is considered an affront to public order and the rule of law.

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Bakare-Oki urged motorists and commercial transport operators to comply with all traffic regulations as stipulated in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, to achieve a safer and more efficient transport ecosystem.

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He emphasized the importance of cooperation with traffic management authorities and appealed to transport unions to sensitize their members on respecting law enforcement and traffic management officers.