A commercial bus conductor has been arrested for allegedly stabbing a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer during a routine traffic enforcement operation at Ile-Epo Market, inward Abule-Egba, along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The incident occurred on Monday when a LASTMA patrol team intercepted a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LSR 989 XG for allegedly causing traffic obstruction along the busy market corridor.
According to LASTMA, the driver resisted the enforcement process, leading to a confrontation. During the altercation, the vehicle’s conductor, identified as Lekan Olasunkanmi, allegedly armed himself with a screwdriver and stabbed one of the traffic officers.
The injured officer was immediately rushed to a nearby medical facility, where he received emergency treatment. LASTMA said he is responding positively to medical care.
Following the attack, the incident was reported to the Abattoir Police Division, where the suspect was arrested and taken into custody for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The agency disclosed that during preliminary police interrogation, the suspect admitted to producing the screwdriver and reportedly confessed that he mistakenly stabbed the officer during the confrontation.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condemned the attack, describing it as unacceptable and expressing concern over what he called the growing hostility towards traffic management personnel while carrying out their lawful duties.
He warned that the Lagos State Government would not tolerate assaults, intimidation or harassment of LASTMA officials, stressing that anyone who attacks officers in the line of duty would face the full weight of the law.
Bakare-Oki noted that LASTMA personnel are deployed across the state to ensure free flow of traffic, facilitate the movement of people and goods, and enforce compliance with traffic regulations.
He also urged motorists, commercial transport operators and other road users to comply with the provisions of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, saying cooperation with traffic officials is essential to improving road safety and traffic management.
The LASTMA boss further appealed to transport unions and commercial vehicle operators to educate their members on the importance of respecting law enforcement and traffic management personnel while performing their official duties.
