LASTMA Officials Flee Ojota, As TOAN Tricycle Operators Attack Officers With Weapons, Blinded One, Rob Others Of Money, Phones , Wrist Watches
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Officers of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA, who were on lawful duty at Ojota park on Sunday, December 19th, 2022, were attacked by about 20 armed members of tricycle operators , who chased them away with charms and succeeded in blinding one officer with broken bottles .
The riotous tricycle operators said to belong to the Tricycle Association Of Nigeria, TOAN, it was gathered also robbed the officials of their valuables including cash, wrist watches, phones and working tools.
LASTMA sources said the tricycle operators were violently protesting the impoundment of their chairman’s new car for traffic offence .
According to a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Adebayo Taofiq made available to News Planet International online newspaper, he said, some of the seriously wounded personnel were still in the hospital receiving treatment adding that a few of the attackers were already in Police custody.
Taofiq Statement read, “Officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were attacked with dangerous weapons while on official duties at Ojota by members of Tricycle (Keke) Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) Ojota Branch on Sunday, 19th of December, 2022.
The LASTMA Officers, who were attacked with dangerous weapons including cutlasses, iron, broken bottles, and local charms, had to abandon their duty posts after one of them was seriously injured.
He said the Officer, Oguntimehin Ajibola, was injured in his left eye with broken bottles by the attackers and is currently on admission at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
Preliminary investigation revealed that members of the Tricycle (Keke) Owners Association, Ojota Branch, numbering about 20, had attacked the officers after they were informed that the Toyota Camry FKJ 161 HB of their newly elected Chairman (Ojota Branch) known as ‘Henro’ was detained for illegal diversion by LASTMA Officials at Ojota.
Taofiq said the General Manager of the Agency, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, confirmed that the matter had been reported at Area ‘H’ Command of the Nigeria Police, Ogudu while efforts are on to identify and arrest all those who took part in the unwarranted attack.
“We are searching for the attackers with information gathered so far by our intelligence unit. We will ensure that the perpetrators are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law”, he added.
