Residents Accuse LASTMA of Killing Driver, Pregnant Woman in Lagos

Rebecca Ejifoma

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), yesterday have been accused of killing a pregnant woman and a tricycle operator.

The incident also injured two children after a bus driver being chased by LASTMA operatives knocked them down.

According to eyewitnesses, the officials gripped the steering wheel while the driver was on motion.

He was said to have rammed into the fully-loaded tricycle and the pregnant woman with her two children. In a rage, residents mobbed the LASTMA official, who was said to have escaped.

The angry mob erected a bonfire. They disrupted vehicular movement within the area.

Meanwhile, in a press release on its official X page, LASTMA claimed its personnel apprehended a driver for driving in a direction prohibited by Law (One-way).

“Traffic Officer Hassan Kehinde of Zone 27, Okota, who led the LASTMA patrol team, disclosed that a driver of a blue Toyota Sienna bus (AKD 944 HN) was apprehended for driving one-way around Ago Palace Way.

“He disclosed further that a policeman attached with the patrol team volunteered to escort the apprehended vehicle to the LASTMA office for proper booking,” the statement read in part.

In an attempt to escape, LASTMA insisted that the driver diverted into Bayo Oyewale Street by Ago roundabout, where he rammed into a fully loaded tricycle.