Lagos condemns murder of LASTMA official

The Lagos State Government on Friday condemned the murder of an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Surajudeen Bakare, on Thursday in Apapa area of the state.

The Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Adebayo Anofiu Eleguishi, said at a news conference that Bakare was a victim of jungle justice.

He said, “The late Bakare was killed by some people who have forcefully taken over the roads to flout rules and regulations and take laws into their own hands.”

Bakare, who was the Zonal Head of LASTMA in Apapa, was beaten to death by suspected commercial motorcycle riders and touts while trying to control traffic.

According to Eleguishi, contrary to reports, eyewitness accounts revealed that no LASTMA vehicle killed anyone before the incident; rather it was the driver of a tanker that killed his motor boy who was asleep under the vehicle.

Elegushi, who reiterated that Lagos was a law and order society, urged the Police to do a thorough investigation and bring the perpetrators to book.

He said, “It is authoritative that the mob action is by tanker drivers, okada riders and other persons who live around them.

“We must emphasise that LASTMA remains a routine activity designed to ensure free flow of traffic.

“Our officers must be accorded respect they very much deserve and in case of an infraction by any of them, there are due processes and mechanisms that redress those infractions.”

The Chief Executive officer of LASTMA, Mr Chris Olakpe, urged members of the public to support officials in ensuring free flow of traffic.

He said that that the authority had embarked on training and retraining of officers, and if there was any complaint, they could call the LASTMA Complaint Response Unit on 08129928646.

(NAN)

Punch