Commercial drivers kill LASTMA officer, beat colleague to a coma

No less than seven people have been apprehended regarding the demise of an officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Godwin Obasu, who, together with his colleague, Hakeem Adeniyi, was allegedly assaulted by bus drivers in Bariga, Lagos State.

One of the LASTMA officials, Hakeem Adeniyi, was injured during the clash and was said to be in a critical condition, fighting for his life at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

The victim on hospital bed

Top Naija learnt that the two LASTMA officers arrested a commercial bus for disobeying the traffic law of the state.

The commercial driver was said to have organised his colleagues to attack Obasu and Adeniyi with various weapons which also include machetes.

According to a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LASTMA, Filade Olumide, on Thursday, disclosed that the General Manager of the authority, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, disapproved the murder of Obasu, stating that Adeniyi was still in a coma.

Filade said, “Godwin Obasu and Hakeem Adeniyi were attacked with machetes and other weapons by the driver of a commercial bus with number plate, FKJ 452 YC, plying Bariga to Oshodi via the Ikorodu Road axis in cohort with some other drivers, after his vehicle was apprehended for contravening the traffic law of the state.

“The sad fact about the whole saga was that the two officers were in mufti and on their way home, having completed their morning shift and closed for the day, before the recalcitrant commercial bus drivers went berserk, seeking any LASTMA officer to attack for carrying out their statutory duties.

“Obazu was struck severally with machetes resulting in deep lacerations on his head and leading to his eventual death, while Hakeem Adeniyi, who was also attacked in a similar fashion, has been hospitalised and in a coma.

“While noting that some senior officers, who were also in mufti and around the area were lucky to escape the mob attack, the general manager warned all cultists doubling as commercial bus drivers that any traffic violation or infraction shall be punished or penalised as enacted by the Lagos State House of Assembly.”

As indicated in the statement, it said seven suspects had been apprehended and handed over to the police, while the commercial driver and others were still on the loose.