There was pandemonium, yesterday, when a motorist fleeing from officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), killed two sweepers working for Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) in Gbagada area of the state.

The incident happened barely a month after a driver killed a pregnant woman and a tricycle rider in Ago Palace way, Lagos under similar circumstances.

The Guardian learnt that the officials attempted to apprehend the driver with vehicle number EPE 984 DV for committing a traffic offence, but he tried to evade arrest.

While fleeing from the LASTMA officials, the driver rammed into two sweepers at their duty post, killing them on the spot.

Angered by the incident, bystanders blocked both inward and outward routes of the Oshodi-Oworonshoki expressway, causing heavy gridlock that lasted several hours in the axis, and forcing commuters to trek to their destinations.

It took the intervention of security agencies to restore sanity in the area.
Confirming the development, spokesperson for LAWMA, Mrs. Folashade Kadiri, said: “We wish to appeal to motorists to drive with utmost caution on the highways, to avoid sad incidents like this.

“The public is urged to remain calm as appropriate steps are being taken, and necessary measures put in place. Our heartfelt condolences go to the families of the deceased, whom we love most dearly.
“Their remains have been deposited at the morgue and we are working on identifying them.”

When contacted, spokesperson of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, said: “We are working on it and will soon come out with our findings.”