Reports say attached to the Itire division of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) allegedly responsible for the death of Ikechukwu Abasirim, a bus conductor along the Oshodi-Apapa expressway on Monday, October 27, 2014.
The drivers who ply the route, on Tuesday, October 28 came out to lament what they called the inhuman treatment meted out to them at the hands of the LASTMA officials, pleading with Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to see to their plight.
A driver, Mr. Elene Ilechukwu, said: “Our experience in the hands of LASTMA officials along this route is pitiable. What they do is hijack a bus along this expressway over a minor offence.
“They would, thereafter, use that bus to go after other buses. They are usually accompanied by three armed policemen. All they do is stop at designated points and give other commercial bus drivers the impression that they are loading. If any driver dares stop by that bus-stop, the armed policemen and LASTMA officials will jump out of the vehicle and arrest the conductor or driver.
“At other times, while we will stop at designated bus-stops to pick passengers, they would come in two commercial buses and block the driver from the back and front. At the end of the day they will extort no less than N5,000 from that driver. We are aware that they have been warned not to effect any arrest on federal roads. Had they adhered to the instruction, Ikechuchwu would not have been killed. We are therefore calling on Governor Fashola to call these officials to order.”
