A traffic enforcement operation by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) turned violent after one of its officers was allegedly stabbed by a commercial bus conductor at Ile-Epo Market, inward Abule-Egba, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The incident occurred when a LASTMA patrol team intercepted a Volkswagen commercial bus with registratio number LSR 989 XG for allegedly obstructing traffic at the busy market corridor.

According to LASTMA, the driver resisted the enforcement process, while the vehicle’s conductor, identified as Lekan Olasunkanmi, allegedly armed himself with a screwdriver and attacked one of the agency’s officers, inflicting a stab wound during the confrontation.

The injured officer was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received emergency treatment and is said to be responding positively.

Following the attack, the suspect was arrested and handed over to officers at the Abattoir Police Division for investigation and possible prosecution.

LASTMA disclosed that during preliminary police interrogation, the suspect admitted to producing the screwdriver and reportedly confessed that he mistakenly stabbed the officer during the altercation.

Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the attack, describing the growing hostility towards traffic management officers as disturbing.

He warned that the Lagos State Government would not condone any form of violence against personnel carrying out their lawful duties.

“Anyone found attacking LASTMA personnel in the course of their lawful duties will face the full weight of the law. Our officers are deployed across the state to ensure the free flow of traffic and compliance with traffic regulations. Any act of violence against them is an attack on public order and will not go unpunished,” he said.

Bakare-Oki urged motorists, commercial transport operators and other road users to comply with the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, stressing that cooperation with traffic management authorities is essential to improving road safety and traffic flow.

He also appealed to transport unions and commercial vehicle operators to continually educate their members on the need to respect law enforcement and traffic management officials while carrying out their responsibilities.