Passengers deplore barbarism of traffic taskforce

THE insinuation by most Lagosians that the high-handedness of law enforcement officers on the roads, including the dreaded Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was soft-pedaled because of the elections not to adversely affect the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may turn out to be real, as cases of motorists’ harassment have begin to emerge.

A commercial bus operator was yesterday dealt a raw deal of the bitter pill at PWD bus-stop on Agege Motor Road, when LASTMA officials with full complement of gun-wielding policemen, apprehended the driver for not ensuring that his passenger, who was on the front seat wore his seat belt.

In their attempt to arrest the driver, the officials threw decorum to the winds and cared less about the safety of the passengers. About three or more LASTMA officials and police were struggling to enter the vehicle on motion. Eventually, a policeman with a gun was able to gain entrance into the moving vehicle through the front door; and without minding the passengers, forced himself into front seat, trampling on the legs of the passengers as he was threatening the driver.

Without consideration for the passengers that the vehicle was carrying from Iyana Ipaja to Oshodi, the team of officials ordered all the passengers in the vehicle to disembark.

One of the LASTMA officials wanted to drive the vehicle but when he could not, the driver was ordered to take the vehicle to an undisclosed destination.

A passenger in the vehicle, who did not mention his name, who described the action of the officials as barbaric said: “The uncouth behaviour of the officials is very disturbing in a civilized city like Lagos. It was generally believed that these officials had been trained on how to deal with the members of the public, not knowing that they only mellowed down during the election period so as not to provoke the electorate to carry out protest vote against the party ruling in Lagos. No sooner the elections are over than they resumed their high handedness and extortion of money from Lagos motorists. If they continue like this, they would spoil the government of Buhari.”