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By Christopher Oji
It was free for all between officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA) and truck drivers, on Tuesday.
At the end of the fisticuff, four LASTMA officials were injured, five people arrested, while 54 vehicles belonging to the company were impounded by the agency.
It was gathered that LASTMA had gone to effect the removal of some trucks illegally parked by the company and the truck drivers resisted the government agency, which resulted in a free for all. However, the Lagos State government has finalised preparations to prosecute the five individuals arrested for assaulting the LASTMA officials. A source said the fight occurred during an enforcement operation in Oba Akran Avenue, Ikeja.
LASTMA Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the attack on their officials, said, “on April 23, 2024, LASTMA operatives conducted an operation to remove illegally parked Viju Milk trucks on Oba Akran Avenue, in response to numerous complaints from the public about the trucks causing traffic congestion.
“During the operation, four LASTMA officers sustained serious injuries from weapons wielded by Viju Milk truck drivers and local miscreants.
While LASTMA operational vehicles were vandalised, 54 Viju Milk trucks were evacuated by LASTMA during the enforcement operations.
“The police, working alongside LASTMA, arrested five of the individuals (Falomo Oluwafemi, Afeniyi Stephen, Olamide Adekunle, Chukwu Guaja Eze and Adeshina Sulaimon) and seized various weapons, including broken bottles, iron rods, charms, knives, and cutlasses. The injured LASTMA officers were promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention.”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, said the arrested individuals would be prosecuted by the government as a deterrent to others.
