By Nurat Uthman
According to reports, at least 15 officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been injured in an ongoing conflict with soldiers in Lagos.
As a result, LASTMA officials have withdrawn from their duty posts in Lagos State due to fears of being attacked by soldiers. There is no sign of the officials from Ojota to Mile 2, including those on the BRT lanes.
The trouble began last Friday when some LASTMA officials at Oshodi area of Lagos attacked a soldier who was in a vehicle that had violated traffic rules. The soldier tried to intervene and pleaded with the officials to let the driver go because of him, but the officials ignored his requests. All passengers were ordered to get out of the vehicle, and it was taken to the LASTMA yard in Oshodi. A fight broke out between the soldier and the LASTMA officials, with the soldier being outnumbered and beaten.
A viral video on social media shows a soldier in military camouflage being whipped by some LASTMA officials. Shortly after, more soldiers arrived at the scene and attacked any LASTMA officials they saw, forcing all officials to leave the Oshodi area. It is unclear if this video is related to the ongoing conflict.
A bus driver named Mr. Andrew James, who drives the Oshodi/NAHCO route, expressed his opinion that LASTMA officials need to be trained in human relations. He mentioned that the attacked soldier claimed to have an iron in his hand and emphasized that no one should be treated that way, regardless of whether they are a soldier or not.
The reprisal attacks by soldiers have continued in the Oshodi and Ojota areas of the state. Yesterday, some LASTMA officials were attacked by individuals claiming to be soldiers in mufti in the Ojota area.
By 1 p.m., most officials had left their duty posts in major areas of Lagos due to news of the attacks spreading.
One official at 7/8 Junction, Ajao Estate, was seen removing his uniform at 9 a.m. to avoid being identified.
He said: “I had to take this measure because if anyone is killed in the process, nothing will be done. This is not the first time soldiers will attack members of other government agencies. Even when it resulted in the death of some policemen, nothing was done about it. This case should have been resolved by now by both authorities. It should not be allowed to escalate.
“No fewer than 15 of my colleagues have been wounded since this crisis started. My colleagues have all vacated their duty posts because news went round that the soldiers were out for LASTMA officials in Lagos.”
Another official at the Ikotun area of Lagos said: “Yes, we have withdrawn from the road because nobody knows where or when they will strike. We got a text from our platform to withdraw for our own good.
“But we were advised to stand-by pending when the matter will be resolved. For me, I am not even close to my duty post because nobody knows if they are working with community people that will identify us.”
When the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment, LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, was contacted, he said an official statement would be issued soon.
On his part, spokesman for 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col Adebisi Ayeni, said: “I am aware that a LASTMA personnel attacked a soldier in uniform on Friday. An investigation into the issue is ongoing.”
