At least 15 officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, are reported to have been severely injured in a clash between them and some military officers in Ojota area of Lagos on Monday.
The development has forced LASTMA Officials to withdraw from their duty posts for fear of being attacked by another set of irate soldiers.
It was reported that state officials were no where to be found from Ojota to Mile 2 since the incident happened. Those on the BRT lanes were also not exempted from the withdrawal.
Trouble started last Friday, when a soldier was attacked by some LASTMA officials at Oshodi area of Lagos.
The soldier with an unknown identity was in a vehicle that was apprehended by LASTMA officials for violating traffic rules.
The soldier reportedly intervened by appealing to the LASTMA officials to allow the driver of the vehicle to go because of him.
But all entreaties fell on deaf ears as all passengers in the vehicle were ordered to alight for the vehicle to be taken to LASTMA yard in Oshodi.
An altercation between the soldier and LASTMA officials degenerated into a fight, during which the latter was outnumbered and overpowered.
He was reportedly beaten and forced to the ground by the LASTMA officials.
However, in a viral video on social media, a soldier in military camouflage was seen being flogged by some LASTMA officials.
One of the commercial bus drivers plying Oshodi/NAHCO route, Mr Andrew James, who spoke with Newsmen said: “LASTMA officials should be retrained on human relations. The attacked soldier was heard telling the officials that he had an iron in his hand. Even if he was not a soldier, no human being deserved to be treated that way.”
The reprisal attack by some soldiers continued, weekend, in Oshodi and Ojota areas of the state.
The reprisal attack on LASTMA officials Monday by some persons in mufti, who claimed to be soldiers, in the Ojota area of the state forced the officials to vacate their duty post as early as 1pm following the continuous spread of the ugly news.
One of the officials at 7/8 Junction, Ajao Estate, was sighted removing his uniform at 9 a.m., yesterday, to avoid being identified.
Speaking with Vanguard, he said: “I had to take this measure because if anyone is killed in the process, nothing will be done. This is not the first time soldiers will attack members of other government agencies. Even when it resulted in the death of some policemen, nothing was done about it. This case should have been resolved by now by both authorities. It should not be allowed to escalate.
“No fewer than 15 of my colleagues have been wounded since this crisis started. My colleagues have all vacated their duty posts because news went round that the soldiers were out for LASTMA officials in Lagos.”
Another official at the Ikotun area of Lagos said: “Yes, we have withdrawn from the road because nobody knows where or when they will strike. We got a text from our platform to withdraw for our own good.
“But we were advised to stand-by pending when the matter will be resolved. For me, I am not even close to my duty post because nobody knows if they are working with community people that will identify us.”
When the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment, LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, was contacted, he said an official statement would be issued soon.
On his part, spokesman for 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col Adebisi Ayeni, said: “I am aware that a LASTMA personnel attacked a soldier in uniform on Friday. An investigation into the issue is ongoing.”
Follow us on social media
