The Lagos State government has vowed to ensure justice for operatives of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) who were attacked in the Mile 2 area during a routine check.

The officers were reportedly assaulted by a driver and passersby after stopping a vehicle. Eyewitnesses said the driver failed to provide the requested documents, sparking a confrontation.

“When they asked the driver for documents he couldn’t provide them, and mentioned that he was carrying a load on top of his car, a fight broke out. Before we knew it, a crowd had gathered to beat the officers. The driver even undressed and joined in beating them before they ran away,” one eyewitness said.

Another eyewitness added: “The crowd physically fought the vehicle inspection officers, injuring them. When the road safety officers arrived, the crowd had already fled the scene. However, some area boys rescued the driver and they ran away. The driver should be caught.”

In response, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, condemned the incident, describing it as a “reprehensible affront to state authority” and warning that it would not go unpunished.

He stressed that Vehicle Inspection Officers have legal authority to enforce road safety and protect lives, noting that any attack on them undermines the rule of law.

The Commissioner assured that the perpetrators would be pursued and brought to justice, while the injured officers are receiving treatment. He reiterated the government’s commitment to the safety and dignity of its personnel, insisting that criminal elements would not be allowed to obstruct the state’s lawful work.