LASTMA officer stabbed as commercial bus driver resists arrest at Ojota
Traffic Enforcement Operation Turns Violent in Lagos
A routine traffic enforcement operation at the Ojota Interchange in Lagos resulted in violence over the weekend when a commercial bus driver allegedly stabbed a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer with a broken bottle while resisting arrest.
The incident occurred when LASTMA officials intercepted a painted Caravelle GL Volkswagen commercial bus, registered as EKY 693 YK, on the Ojota–Ketu corridor. The vehicle was flagged down for a serious traffic violation, as it was being operated with the passenger door ajar while fully loaded, posing a risk to both passengers and other road users.
According to LASTMA, the driver attempted to evade arrest by dangerously mounting the road median. His escape was halted when the bus became immobilized on the roadway, leading to a rapid escalation of the situation.
In a sudden turn of events, the driver reportedly seized a jagged broken bottle from within the bus and attacked the enforcement officers, injuring one officer in the fingers of his right hand. The officer suffered fractures and significant blood loss before the assailant fled the scene. Despite this, the bus was impounded in accordance with legal protocols.
The injured officer was transported to a medical facility, where he underwent emergency surgery. LASTMA confirmed that two fingers of the officer required operative reconstruction, and he remains under medical observation.
Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, condemned the attack as ‘reprehensible and unacceptable.’ He emphasized that any act of violence against enforcement personnel undermines lawful authority and civil order.
Bakare-Oki stated that the incident has been reported to the police, and investigations are underway to apprehend and prosecute the fleeing suspect. He cautioned commercial transport operators against reckless disregard for traffic laws, reaffirming that the agency will continue to enforce regulations aimed at protecting public safety.
“The Authority will continue to intensify enforcement operations to safeguard public safety and uphold regulatory discipline across Lagos State,” Bakare-Oki noted. LASTMA reiterated its commitment to maintaining order and navigating the city’s traffic challenges, warning that acts of lawlessness would have serious legal repercussions.
