By Christopher Oji
A driver, running away from the Lagos State Management Authority (LATSMA) officials, yesterday, killed two street cleaners at the Charlie Boy Bus-stop on the Oshodi-Gbagada Expressway, Lagos.
The yet-to-be identified driver was attempting to evade arrest by officers of LASTMA when his vehicle rammed over the innocent sweepers.
The lifeless bodies of the cleaners were laid in a drainage channel as onlookers mourned the havoc caused by the driver and LASTMA officials. The angry crowd and other street cleaners blocked the road, leaving commuters stranded for hours.
A witness, John Obi, said the victims were said to be from the same family.
“This has been happening for a long period of time; the exploitation and wickedness by Lagos State government and LASTMA is causing us serious pains and it must stop. Look at what happened, two family members died because a LASTMA official was chasing a bus. Drivers are scared of LASTMA and Vehicle Inspection Officers, because they know the implications of stopping for a check. There is no way you can escape their official wickedness, so they prefer to run instead of stopping for a check. Many people have died while others have been maimed in similar circumstances,” Obi said.
Some street cleaners were seen accusing the state government of endangering their lives. All civil attempts to take them off the road fell on deaf ears until the intervention of a horde of police officers who dispersed them by firing gunshots into the air.
Meanwhile, there was a mild protest against the operation of LASTMA at Ile Zik Bus Stop, close to Ikeja Along Bus Stop. Other areas affected by the protest include Agege, Iyana Ipaja, Egbeda, Abule Egba, Mangoro and Agbado. The areas were shut down by commercial drivers who withdrew their vehicles and services from the roads, forcing commuters to trek to their various destinations.
Drivers, who participated in the protest, carried placards bearing inscriptions, such as “We are tired of government agencies extortion”; LASTMA and VIO are extorting us”; “It was not so during Ambode”; “Sanwo-Olu should do something about extortion of drivers by government agencies”.
A lady, Joy, who was injured by the operatives of the Lagos State Police Command while dispersing the protesting commercial drivers in the Mangoro, Ikeja area, said she was heading to the hospital, from where she would move to the bone setter’s home to mend her broken bones. Another witness, Chinedu, who spoke with Daily Sun, said the lady was a victim of circumstance as she was not one of the protesters.
Chinedu said: “The lady was waiting to board a commercial bus when, suddenly, policemen came with their vehicles and, on sighting the protesters, started firing teargas everywhere. Unfortunately, for the lady, the teargas hit her face and she fell down and sustained a deep cut. I think she suffered a fractured bone.
“It is unfortunate that the police are chasing the drivers, who have the right to protest. How can LASTMA be harassing innocent fathers doing their legal businesses in the state and the police expect them to keep calm. The excesses of the LASTMA officials are becoming unbearable and, unfortunately, the government is supporting what they are doing instead of condemning it. We are all in the country together. I pray that God will save the lady hit by the teargas canister.”
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation (MOT) has condoled with the families of the deceased.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, in a statement, yesterday, said: “The Ministry of Transportation wishes to express its profound condolences to the management of LAWMA and the families of the deceased, and prays for the repose of the departed souls. Information gathered revealed that the driver of a Honda Saloon Car, with registration number EPE 984 DV, rammed into the innocent sweepers, while they were discharging their duties along the Gbagada expressway, this morning.
“Immediate investigation revealed that no LASTMA personnel was involved in the unfortunate incident. In addition, it was confirmed that policemen from the Pedro Police Station had recovered the accident vehicle into their custody to aid further and thorough investigation on the incident, in order to unravel the real cause. The Ministry of Transportation wants to assure members of the public that the outcome of the police investigation would be made public and anyone found culpable will be made to face the consequences of the law”.
Last Sunday, the Lagos State Police Command convened a stakeholders meeting to address the proposed protest by the commercial bus drivers in the state.