An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) identified as Ola Oyeshina has died after he was attacked by a mob on Friday while carrying out his official duty.
LASTMA General Manager, Olajide Oduyoye, condemned the attack in a statement released by the agency’s spokesman, Olumide Filade, on Saturday.
Mr Oyeshina was attacked “during the course of sanitising Iganmu-Sifax axis of Apapa,” the statement said.
It comes three years after another LASTMA officer, Tunji Bakare, was killed by a mob in the Apapa area in December 2016.
Mr Oduyoye, who disclosed that a large stone was thrown at Oyeshina, said that he was immediately rushed to Area “B” police station along with two of the people that attacked him.
The general manager revealed that owing to the trauma experienced, Oyeshina was immediately referred to LUTH from Randle Hospital, Surulere.
“It is unfortunate that the agency lost the young promising officer to the cold hand of death in the early hours of Saturday, 30th November 2019,” the general manager said.
He assured that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would be prosecuted in the court of law to serve as deterrent to other members of the public.
“LASTMA was established to manage and control traffic in order to reduce the people’s travel time on our roads, increase economic growth through increased productivity and ensure the populace safety and security.
“A situation where road users will now turn against any government official in order not to answer the consequences of breaking the law is unacceptable and would not be condoned henceforth.
“With the recent inauguration of a committee on war against traffic and environmental offenders, there is no more hiding place for Lagos residents or visitors that go against the law,” Oduyoye said.
The Lagos State Government in 2018 said that 18 LASTMA officers were killed, while 24 others were permanently incapacitated in the line of duty.
