Police Arrest LASTMA Officials Who Caused Bus Conductor's Death

The blood of the late bus conductor, Ikechukwu Abasirim, whose death was allegedly caused by some erring Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, officials at the Cele Bus Stop along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, must have cried out for justice as the officials who pushed him off his bus, have been arrested by the police authorities.

According to Vanguard Newspaper, the suspects included three policemen attached to LASTMA, a Sergeant, a Corporal and a Constable, who were alleged to have led the LASTMA officials in the ill-fated operation.

It was gathered that when news of the incident reached LASTMA’s management, the erring officials were ordered to be arrested. They were said to be in the custody of police at Itire Division.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s family has called on the relevant authorities to ensure that justice was done on the death of their son, Ikechukwu Abasirim.

Commercial bus drivers plying the route yesterday decried what they described as inhuman treatment and intimidation meted out on them by officials of LASTMA and called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to checkmate their excesses.

The drivers alleged that the officials extort money from them at every opportunity, wondering why such exploitation would be carried out on a federal road.

One of the drivers 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.