LASG: Killers of LASTMA Commander Arrested

• NPA MD, Bala-Usman visits slain official’s family, widow gets undisclosed cash

Gboyega Akinsanmi and Eromosele Abiodun

The Lagos State Government monday disclosed that the killers of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Zonal Commander, Mr. Olatunji Bakare, had been arrested.

The state government added that two persons were arrested in connection with Bakare’s gruesome murder, noting that their arrests would speed up the ongoing investigation.

The state Commission of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, disclosed this at a media briefing he addressed at the State House, Alausa, alongside the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tunji Bello.

Owoseni addressed the briefing after the state security council meeting chaired by the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, noting that security agencies responded swiftly to a bomb scare in the state.

At the briefing, Owoseni said investigation into the case was still ongoing, though that those arrested would help in arresting others who were part of the mob action that led to the incident.
He said: “It is an ongoing investigation. You know there was a video recording which we have considered and it is based on some of the faces that we saw in it that we picked those arrested.
“It was a mob action. We do not want to rush to court without doing a good clinical finishing of forensic analysis of the faces to match them with what we have seen in the video, and for those fellows who have been arrested to identify others.

“As investigation is going on, we would be unveiling the development to the people of the state, but what we just want to do is to ensure that such impunities do not happen again in the state.”
Besides, the commissioner recalled the arrest of some Boko Haram suspects in the state recently, saying the collaborative effort and synergy that had always existed among security agencies in the state led to the arrests.

He said henceforth, government and security agencies have resolved to be more vigilant to ensure that those elements were not allowed any space to operate in Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, has paid a condolence visit to the family of Bakare.

Bala-Usman who visited the family with officials of the NPA gave the widow of the deceased, Mrs Fatimat Bakare, an undisclosed sum of money.

She also called on the Lagos State government and the Nigerian police to do whatever is necessary to ensure that those responsible for Bakare’s death are brought to book.

The visibly moved Bala-Usman said: “We felt the need in the authority to come andextend condolence to the family of the LASTMA official that died in the courseof active duty. He was on active duty in the Apapa port area and as the landlord of the area we decided to come and visit the family. It is important that officers who die in active service are accorded the needed respect by government and organisations.

“We believe that nobody should be treated the way hewas treated; we call on the Nigerian police to ensure that justice is done.Nobody should be killed in the manner that this young man was killed; this isunacceptable in any society.

“We will stand by the family to ensure that they are doing well. I encourage theLagos State Government and the Nigerian police at large to ensure that theperpetrators are brought to justice so this people will be discouraged fromtaking the laws into their hands. The long arms of the law should get to anyonewho does this kind of a thing like this. If not checked other officers will bediscouraged from carrying out their duty. So it is important that an example isshowed and let everyone know that this kind of behaviour is not welcomed in ourcountry. The NPA will further enhance the security around the port and ensure miscreantsaround that area are shown the way out.”

The widow, Mrs. Fatimat Bakare, thanked the NPA for assisting her and the family adding that the gesture has strengthened her belief that her husband did not die in vain.

“I want to say a big thank you to the NPA. It is painful the way my husband died. To get this assistance from the NPA shows that my husband’s work was greatly valued. It is painful that I only knew the worth of my husband after his death. That is very painful…painful. Thank you all I appreciate.”

The tearful widow thanked the NPA boss for making out time to visit her and the family, while praying in tears.

The chief executive of LASTMA, AIG Chris Olakpe, who condemned the incident said the LASTMA official was carrying out lawful duty when he was murdered.

“He was rendering service to the state and the country at large. We have sworn that we will get to the bottom of it. The governor of Lagos State made sure that the police was well empowered to get to the root of it and we are greatful that two arrets have been made and we have put everything in place to get other accomplices. We want to let the members of the public know that this is not an animal kingdom, such acts will be severely punished no matter who is involved.”

He urged the late Bakare’s wife to administer the money given to her by the NPA with the fear of God and put her cchildren’s education first.

He thanked the NPA boss and her management for the kind gesture while urging other organisations to emulate the NPA.

The late Olatunji, who was the zonal head of the agency in the Apapa area, had led a team of officials to the area in a patrol van to arrest erring motorists when he was killed.
It was gathered that tanker drivers, who parked their vehicles on the road fled onsighting the enforcement agents.

The LASTMA van was said to have ran into an assistant driver (motor boy) while he struggled to escape arrest.

The boy, whose name had yet to be ascertained, was reportedly sleeping by the road side. He died on the spot.

Angered by the boy’s death, his friends were said to have regrouped and went on rampage, killing Olatunji in the process.