LASTMA Officials, Policemen Arrested Over The Death of The Bus Conductor

No fewer than seven policemen and officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) were yesterday arrested for the part they allegedly played in the death of a bus conductor, identified as Ikechukwu Abasirim.

Abasirim had died on Monday at Cele bus stop along the Oshodi Apapa expressway, after he fell off from a commercial bus, as the driver tried to evade arrest from LASTMA officials.

Although the exact number of officials arrested could not be ascertained as at press time, it was however gathered that the suspects included three policemen (a sergeant, a corporal and a constable) who were attached to the traffic agency.

The arrested persons are currently in custody of the Itire Police Division pending the outcome of police investigation.
The death of the conductor had provoked some protests on Monday as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) disrupted traffic flow on the expressway, even as some motorists had their windshields smashed by the protesters.

Attempts to confirm the arrests with the state police spokesperson, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, proved abortive as he was said to be on a media tour with the Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti.

Meanwhile, the commercial bus drivers plying the Apapa-Mile2-Oshodi route yesterday staged a mini protest to register their grievances.
According to them, the death of Abasirim has brought to the fore the daily harassment they face in the hands of the traffic agency and the police.

Calling on the state government to come to their aid in checkmating the excesses of these officials, they also alleged that they face these harassment when they fail to tip the traffic agencies.
One of the drivers, Mr Elene Ilechukwu, said: "Our experience in the hands of LASTMA officials along this route is pitiable to say the least.

"What they do is to hijack a bus along this expressway over a minor offence. They would thereafter use that bus to raid other buses. They are usually accompanied by three armed policemen.

"All they do is to stop at designated points, giving other commercial bus drivers the impression that they are loading. If any driver dares to 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 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 collect nothing less than N5,000 from that driver. We are aware that they have been warned not to effect any arrest on federal roads. Ikechuchwu would not have been killed if they had listened."

Culled from This Day Live