Traffic warden attacks bus driver over N50 bribe, causes three teeth to fall out

A traffic warden has brought shame and embarrassment to his office due to his recent encounter with the driver of a commercial bus.

The Punch reports that the traffic warden, Sunday Charles, demanded a N50 bribe from Kingsley, a commercial bus driver, at the Omole bus stop on Oba Ogunnusi Road, Ojodu area, Lagos State.

Reports say Kingsley refused to pay, claiming that he had earlier given N50 to the warden.

This led to the a fight, in which Charles punched Kingsley's face until three of his teeth fell out.

Here is how Kingsley describes it:

“I am a commercial driver. The warden stopped me about 8.30am and I gave him N50. So, I was surprised when he asked me again. I was going towards Agidingbi Road when he stopped me. He demanded another N50. I refused, saying he should wait till evening. He dragged me from the bus and started punching me on my face.

“My mouth started bleeding. I realised three of my front teeth had fallen off. So, I grabbed his uniform. People bundled him inside my vehicle and said I should take him to the police station.

“His colleagues and officials stood away during the altercation because he did not listen to them. I suspect the warden was drunk because of the way he dragged me from my vehicle."

READ: 'Commercial drivers are becoming violent on the road', FRSC Zonal Officer observes

Here are similar narrations of the incident by Abiodun Dada, a pedestrian and another pedestrian, who tried to break the fight.

"It was the warden who first hit the motorist. He punched him on the mouth and yanked out some of his teeth. It was the blood gushing from the driver’s mouth that attracted pedestrians. We later discovered it was an argument over payment of N50. If not for the wardens and the LASTMA officials who begged angry motorists, the gathering could have turned violent,”Dada said.

READ: Innocent motorists suffer as Navy, Police fight in Port Harcourt traffic

“As people dragged the warden inside the vehicle, his trousers were torn, and buttons of his shirt also fell off. We wanted to report him at the Ojodu Police Station, and to demand that he should take for treatment at a hospital. But when we saw that his uniform had torn, we advised to let him go and leave the matter to God. We suspected that the police could turn the matter against him for tearing the uniform of their officer and neglect his missing teeth," the second pedestrian said.

However, Dolapo Badmos, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, claims Charles was attacked by the bus driver.

“The traffic warden was beaten by a commercial bus driver and his conductor who are still at large. His service uniform was torn to pieces. He was rescued by a team of policemen deployed in the scene."

READ: 32-year-old driver attacks Vehicle Inspection Officers

What do you think?