By Precious Igbonwelundu
Angry youths on Tuesday attacked officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and their police escort for causing the death of an about-to-wed motorist.
The incident which occurred at the Super area of Abule Egba, caused panic among residents and road users.
The enforcement team attracted the wrath of the youths after another vehicle escaping their clutches, knocked and killed the unnamed driver of a Toyota Corolla car whose wedding, they said was to be held on Saturday.
It was gathered that the officers had stopped the deceased for plying the BRT lane and insisted he must part with N100,000 bribe or risk his vehicle being confiscated.
An eyewitness, Babs Saliu, alleged that all the pleas from the driver fell on deaf ears, adding that there was no warning sign to alert motorists that the diversion was only for BRT.
“The driver was with his younger brother. He begged them to collect N40,000 but they refused and kept threatening him that they will tow his car to their office and government will seize it.
“He begged them that he didn’t know it was BRT lane and that he was planning for his wedding but they refused to listen. At a point he offered N70,000 to them and they still stood their grounds.
‘One of the officers told him to go to a nearby POS to get the bribe money for them and as they were still having that discussion, another vehicle fleeing from the officers knocked the Toyota Corolla.
“The driver died on the spot while his younger brother sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital.
“This angered onlookers and passersby who immediately started protesting against the officers accusing them of constant extortion.of the masses at that bus stop.
“The mob that gathered attacked the security operatives who fled for fear of being lynched. The mob then barricaded the BRT lane with the Corolla car and other objects.”
Chanting war songs, the protesters in their hundreds called on the government to withdraw those agencies from the scene.
“We are calling on the state government to withdraw the police and LATSMA from the place as they are not working for the government but for their pockets. They are making millions everyday.
“They should also do road signs to warn unsuspecting motorists, especially those coming from Ogun State about BRT lane.
“The normal road and the BRT are conjoined and it is difficult to differentiate the roads and the government agencies cashed in on the ignorance of motorists to rob them of their money,” lamented a trader.
“Instead of staying on the entry point to control traffic or direct motorists not to pass there, they would hide somewhere,.so when a motorist makes the mistake of entering the BRT road, the officials in the company of armed policemen would use sharp objects to barricade the road and swoop on the offender.
“They never take any offender who pays N 50, 000 and above to the station, but would end up collecting money from them,” said another protester.
As at press time, the protesters were still at the scene guarding the Corolla car and chanting: “We don’t need BRT, it will never operate on this route again” “We don’t need LASTMA and police here” “We are tired of arrest and stealing our hard earned money” “Police and LATSMA are working for their tommy.”
However, five police patrol vehicles were on ground trying to recover the vehicle they used in blocking the BRT lane, but the protesters were not ready to give up as they were resisting the armed policemen.
Contacted, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO SP Benjamin Hundyin said: “I am aware that a driver who broke the law by passing through BRT lane, hit a man and the man died. I have not been properly briefed on the matter.”
