We will deal ruthlessly with anyone attacking LASTMA officers, Lagos vows

The Lagos State Government yesterday vowed to deal ruthlessly with any motorists or individuals caught attacking officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

The government said the killing of 18 LASTMA officers this year alone and permanent incapacitation of 24 others would no longer be tolerated as government would not fold its hand and allow its officers to be killed and dehumanized by the public.

Commissioner for Transportation, Ladi Lawanson, at a news conference appealed to the motoring public that LASTMA was created and empowered by law to ‘control and manage vehicular traffic flow in the state. “One is therefore at a loss as to why our officers, employed to safeguard members of the public are always attacked by the same members of the public whose interest they are promoting and protecting.

“Members of the public should realize that these officers are parents, uncles, sisters, brothers, nieces and children of other people. The officer cadre of LASTMA is peopled by highly educated and dedicated men and women who should not be seen as never-do-wells because they control traffic and are in uniform.

“In the case of Rotimi Adeyemo, he holds both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Economics. He left behind a 105-year old father, an 88-year old mother, a wife, Eniola and three children, including a set of twins,” he said.According to Lawanson, “We would like to reiterate that going forward, we will not tolerate the slightest attack on any of our officers and men. We shall henceforth apply the full weight of the relevant extant law on culprits in this regard.”