LASTMA says officials not responsible for commuters’ deaths
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) sidestepped eyewitness’ reports linking some of its officials and a police officer to the death of two commuters in Ago Palace area of the metropolis.
In the Tuesday incident, the said officials allegedly chased after a bus driver and eventually got him to halt the vehicle.
One of the officials reportedly got into the bus and struggled with the driver to take over the steering wheel. While that was going on, the driver throttled the bus and hit a tricycle conveying some commuters. The tricycle driver and his pregnant passenger died from the incident.
Following the incident, the LASTMA officials bolted from the scene, leading angry residents to storm the Isolo Local Council Development Area annex, setting its facilities ablaze.
In its statement, the LASTMA said the driver’s attempt to escape from the traffic officers led to the fatalities.
Adebayo Taofiq, LASTMA’s spokesman, said, “On their way, and in an attempt by the driver to escape, he (the driver) diverted into Bayo Oyewale Street by Ago Roundabout and rammed into a fully loaded tricycle.”
Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson for Lagos Police Command, in response to the incident, said,
“We have deployed patrol teams to the area and normalcy has been restored.” He also said the police officer involved in the accident was providing safety to the officials.
