Lagos to prosecute man for assaulting LASTMA official

THE Lagos State Government is set to prosecute one Ben Emmanuel for attacking an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority at the Jakande junction in Lekki on Sunday. According to LASTMA General Manager, Olajide Oduyoye said that Emmanuel will face the law for assaulting Ismaila Lukman, an officer of the agency while on duty and causing him injury on the head. Oduyoye, said the LASTMA official was attacked for advising Emmanuel to utilise the footbridge after he was approached to stop traffic for pedestrians at the traffic lights that had been damaged by hoodlums during the violent #EndSARS protests in Lagos. The General Manager said that the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo has directed that Emmanuel should be charged to court for assault and made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others. Oduyoye reiterated that LASTMA will remain focused on carrying out its statutory activities despite intimidation and assault on its personnel, assuring that anyone caught harassing its officers will pay dearly for such offences as stipulated by the Law. Giving details of the encounter, Lukman, said that while controlling traffic at Jakande Junction, Emmanuel approached him to stop traffic for pedestrians despite being at close proximity to an overhead bridge. “He then proceeded to step into the carriageway in front of moving traffic causing disruption to traffic flow. I asked him to leave the road and stop disturbing my work. Thereafter, two other men joined him and injured me on the head”, the LASTMA officer said. Meanwhile, LASTMA has advised all motorists to ensure compliance with the traffic laws of Lagos State to avoid confrontation and arrest, as its personnel will continue to apprehend traffic offenders and bring them to justice.