An officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Obasu Godwin, had been killed by commercial bus drivers within the axis of Bariga to the Oshodi area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Thursday after when the officer and his colleague were already in mufti on their way going home after being completed their morning shift and closed for the day.
It was gathered that the officer, Obasu Segun Godwin, and Adeniyi Hakeem were attacked with machetes and other dangerous weapons by the drivers of the commercial buses.
According to the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olajide Oduyoye, while condemning the alleged murder, describes it as “senseless and unwarranted.”
Describing the incident, Mr. Oduyoye hinted that another officer, Adeniyi Hakeem, was assaulted by the operator of a Suzuki commercial bus otherwise known as ‘korope’s, and others at Anthony area of Lagos State.
Mr. Oduyoye said, “Obasu Segun Godwin and Adeniyi Hakeem were attacked with machetes and other dangerous weapons by the driver of a commercial bus with registration number FKJ 452 YC after his vehicle was apprehended for contravening the Traffic Law of the State along Bariga to Oshodi via the Ikorodu Road axis in companion with some other drivers.
Mr. Oduyoye in his words while describing the incident stated that “The sad fact about the whole saga was that the two officers were in mufti and on their way home, having completed their morning shift and closed for the day before the recalcitrant commercial bus drivers went berserk, seeking any LASTMA officers to attack for carrying out their statutory duties.
Mr. Oduyoye also hinted that “Obasu was struck severally with machetes resulting in deep injuries on the head and he eventually died, while Adeniyi Hakeem, who was also attacked similarly has been hospitalized and in a coma.”
Mr. Oduyoye went further to alleged that, some senior officers, who were in mufti around the area were also lucky to escape the mob attack. He added that seven of the culprits have been caught and handed over to the police while the driver of the bus and others are still at large.
The General Manager warned “all cultists doubling as commercial bus drivers that any traffic violation or infraction shall be punished or penalized as enacted by the Lagos State House of Assembly”
However, the LASTMA Director of Operations, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba in a statement by LASTMA Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Filade Olumide maintain that “the sad event could have been averted” while also adding that, the incident would not deter the agency from carrying out its functions and duties as laid down by the Law of the State.
According to the statement, Oreagba promised to ensure that the injured officer, who is still in a coma at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, is well taken care of.
Oreagba while lamenting also commiserate with the family of the deceased officer stating that “the state and the agency have lost too many good law enforcement officers to these lawless and recalcitrant motorists and this has to stop.
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