There was confusion on Tuesday at the Idi-Iroko area of Lagos State after a yet-to-be-identified commercial bus driver passed out when officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority attacked him.
The incident happened around 9.30am. Eyewitnesses said passersby who attempted to capture the scene on their telephones were attacked and their phones confiscated.
A witness, who pleaded anonymity because she did not want to be victimised, said the unidentified driver had first bashed a Toyota Highlander without stopping. This prompted the owner of the affected vehicle to speed ahead and block the car when the bus driver attempted to escape.
She said, “I learnt the bus driver brushed the car and he did not stop. So, the car owner drove ahead and blocked him. He called the attention of the LASTMA officials who came to arrest him, which led to a free-for-all.”
Another witness, who was at the gate of the traffic agency when our correspondent visited, said the driver was beaten by some agents of LASTMA.
“They did not wear any uniform, but we know they work with LASTMA. They beat up the man and he fainted,” he said.
Our correspondent learnt that as efforts were on to resuscitate the victim, some of his passengers began to cry.
“Some of the women were crying profusely because they thought he had died. He laid there on the main road, almost lifeless. It was after much effort that he came round and he was made to sit on a pavement for some time,” a source said.
PUNCH Metro was told that the head of the Anthony office of LASTMA came out and asked the LASTMA official, who had taken over the vehicle, to let the driver go.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, in a text message, said, “Thanks for the information. I will get back to you with my findings as I am presently on some operations and I have yet to be briefed.”
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