A driver, Michael James, is still in pain
after six officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and men of
the Lagos State Police Command allegedly brutalised him during an arrest for a
traffic offence he described as illegal on Lateef Jakande Road in the Ikeja
Local Government Area of the state.
It was gathered from James that the
officials, while enforcing his arrest, were assisted by two hoodlums, and two
of his teeth were knocked out and his gum ripped off, while they were trying to
dispossess him of his vehicle.
James said the policemen and LASTMA
officials released him and handed his vehicle to him after realising that he
was bleeding profusely, adding that he had spent over N80,000 on medical
expenses.
He stated, “I was on my way to our factory
on Adeniyi Jones to convey nylon for my boss, but as I drove through Lateef
Jakande Road, three officials of LASTMA, two other guys and three armed
policemen suddenly stopped me. I asked what I had done and they said I drove
against the traffic. I became surprised because I was the only person they
stopped as other vehicles driving on the same lane were not stopped. I had been
plying that route since 2001 and no one had ever stopped me for driving against
the traffic.
“I was still explaining to them when one of
them attempted to forcefully remove the vehicle’s key; I pleaded with them but
they overpowered me and pushed me out of the vehicle. I held one of them firmly
and we both landed on the ground and the LASTMA officials seized the
opportunity to drive my vehicle away. The remaining officials and policemen
started beating me, while I was on the ground and in the process, they knocked
out two of my teeth and my gum was affected.
“When they saw
that I was bleeding heavily, they stopped beating me and ordered me to enter
the commercial bus they were using to operate and drove me down to Anthony bus
stop, where my vehicle was parked. When we got there, they said I should bring
my phone, but I told them that I would not release my phone to them unless they
killed me.
“I called my boss, who connected me with an
official, who intervened and after realising that the road where I was accosted
was not one-way, they were instructed to release my vehicle.”
James, however, said a few days after he
was assaulted, he wore a face mask, drove on the same road and saw one of the
LASTMA officials, who assaulted him, adding that he knew he was brutalised
unjustly when he asked the official if he was driving against the traffic and
he said no.
He stated, “I went straight to see a
dentist to treat me because two of my teeth had been removed and my gum was
also affected. I have been in severe pain since the assault; in fact, my teeth
were stitched to my gum and they removed again. After some days, I drove on the
same road and luckily I saw one of the LASTMA officials, who assaulted me.
“He could not recognise me because I wore a
face mask; I asked if the road was one-way and he said it wasn’t. I used that
opportunity to snap his picture without his knowledge. I recognise all those
involved in the illegal duty and I showed my boss when we visited the LASTMA
head office in Oshodi. I have spent over N80,000 on treatment and I am still
not fine. I want them prosecuted. The incident happened on March 24, 2021.”
When contacted, the spokesman for LASTMA,
Olumide Filade, said, “An investigation will be conducted on it and anybody
found culpable will face disciplinary action. The victim should also visit our
office to make an official complaint.”
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