LASTMA official manhandled for driving against traffic

It was a mild drama yesterday as some politicians arrested an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) for driving against traffic, known as one-way along Oworonshoki expressway.

The action of the politicians, which went viral on social media, received accolades from Nigerians, with many of them asserting that law enforcers should not be law breakers.

The angry citizens dragged him out of the car and ruffled his uniform before dragging him around to the excitement of passersby. They expressed anger that the LASTMA official who is among those arresting other motorists who go against the traffic law should not have driven against traffic.

LASTMA had since the emergence of the Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration began a renewed onslaught to enforce the traffic laws in the state. For instance, the penalty for driving against traffic if found guilty by the mobile court was forfeiture of the vehicle or payment of a N200,000 fine.

But in a swift reaction, LASTMA authorities said the official and his colleagues were on a lawful duty when they were nabbed by the politicians.

According to head of LASTMA Public Affairs, Mamud Hassan, “our preliminary finding revealed that the LASTMA officer apprehended a violator of traffic law and in the process of taking the vehicle to the nearby LASTMA yard he was physically attacked. In a bid to escape further attack and threat to life, he had to act in that manner.

“We want to assure members of the public that LASTMA will not condone neither celebrate any violator of the state traffic law, irrespective of status and profession in the society. We are professionally guarded by the principle of equality before law. And any officer caught violating traffic law will be punished according to the law and in addition to punishment of the state public service rule.”