Rahma Ahmed
By Ahmed Rahma
The Lagos State government is making plans to prosecute the driver of a blue-black Opel Space bus with registration number AAA 74 GG for allegedly killing an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Samson Olawale Akinmade, on Wednesday.
Mr Akinmade, according to the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olajide Oduyoye, was allegedly knocked down by the motorist while he (the deceased) was controlling traffic at the Demurin Street junction inwards Mile 12, Ketu.
The LASTMA chief narrated that when the driver approached the junction, he parked to pick some passengers and when he saw the traffic official coming towards, “he assumed that he would be apprehended for obstructing traffic and sped off, knocking down the officer against the concrete culvert on the service lane and dragging him for about seven metres.
“He tried to escape through a street which turned out to be closed but was eventually arrested and handed over to the Police at Alapere along with his vehicle.”
The General Manager described the incident as sad especially because Mr Akinmade only joined the agency in 2019 and was very dedicated to his job.
He lamented that the deceased’s life was cut short “in his prime by a careless and lawless driver, thereby depriving his family, the government agency, Lagos and Nigeria of a future leader in the making.”
But he assured that the Lagos State government will ensure that the apprehended driver would be prosecuted in accordance with the law to serve as a deterrent to others violating the traffic law.
Mr Oduyoye expressed the sympathy of colleagues at the Ministry of Transportation and LASTMA to the entire family of the deceased.
He warned all motorists to desist from violating the state traffic law in order to prevent unnecessary accidents and deaths on Lagos roads, urging commuters to exercise patience at all times.
