LAGOS —THE Lagos State Government said it handed over to the police, three officers of the state Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, suspected to be involved in last Thursday’s tragic death of a commercial bus conductor to serve as deterrent to others.But in a swift reaction, Lagos State Police Command, yesterday, denied claims that three officials of LASTMA were in its custody.
The police said only one injured LASTMA official was brought in on Friday. The official, whose name was given as Lalemi Akinsoji, was reportedly released on medical ground.
It would be recalled that trouble broke out last Thursday at old toll gate on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Lagos, following a protest by commercial bus drivers over the alleged killing of a bus conductor by LASTMA officials.
Eye witnesses had said LASTMA officials were chasing the bus and in the process, one of them dragged the conductor, who was hanging on the bus, down, but unfortunately, a fast moving vehicle rammed over the conductor, killing him on the spot.
Police sources at Ketu division, under whose jurisdiction is the affected area, revealed that none of those currently in their custody was a LASTMA official.
“We are even planning to draw the attention of the Commissioner of Police to it, so that we would not be held responsible for any lapses at the end of the day. The only person that was brought to the station was an injured man. We had to release him on bail for medical treatment,” police sources hinted.
Why we handed over suspects
State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, while expressing government’s regret on the avoidable incident, described it as “unfortunate.”
He said: “I want to say that the state government is deeply touched by the death of the bus conductor. I can assure you that Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, which believes in the rights of citizens, will not leave any stone unturned in getting to the root of it appropriately.
“We are sad about this development; we send our condolences to the families, relatives, friends and the entire Lagosians on the death of the bus conductor. We handed them (LASTMA suspects) over in order for the law to take its course, this administration believes in the right of every citizen to life and would not in any away shy away from protecting it to the latter. Government, in this case, will not shield any one found culpable in this matter.
“No stone would be left unturned in getting to the root of the matter with the aim of serving as deterrent to others as well as ensure that justice was not only done but seen to have been done.”
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