Metro
Protesters clash with LASTMA, Police over death of motorist
Hell was let loose yesterday in the Super area of Abule-Egba, Lagos, as angry protesters engaged officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police who accompanied them in a confrontation.
The LASTMA officers and policemen were accused of causing the death of a man who was crushed by a vehicle whose driver was evading the law enforcement agents.
A witness, Babs Saliu, told our reporter that trouble started when a man driving a Toyota Corolla salon was arrested for driving on the BRT lane: “The driver was pleading that he didn’t know that he had veered into the BRT lane as there were no traffic signs or road markings to warn motorists of the BRR lane. The LATSMA men and police escorts rebuffed the driver’s plea.
“I overheard the driver telling them that he would be wedding next Saturday.
But the government agencies insisted that the offending driver must grease their palms with N100,000. He stared begging that he had only N40,000 to part with. The government agents threatened to tow the vehicle to their office and the government would confiscate the vehicle.
It was at that point that the driver and his younger brother said that they would pay N70,000 and the officials insisted that he must pay the N100,000 or he would regret it. One of the officials told the driver that he should go to a nearby POS to withdraw the money and give to them and he would be given back his vehicle.
“It was while the negotiation was going on that another vehicle whose the driver was escaping from LASTMA for also driving on the BRT lane hit the Corolla driver and his younger brother and drove away. The man died on the spot while his brother who was badly injured was rushed to the hospital.
“Passersby and traders who claimed the LASTMA officials and their police escorts always use the BRT lane at that particular bus stop to milk unsuspecting motorists who make the mistake of entering the BRT lane got angry and said that enough was enough and chased away the government officials, who escaped by the whisker.”
The angry protesters, numbering about 2,000, barricaded the BRT lane with the Corolla car and other items. When our reporter visited the scene, the protesters were chanting war songs, warning that the government should withdraw its agencies, LATSMA and the police, from the area.
A trader stationed along the road said, “Look at the the road, is there any sign to show that it is a BRT lane? If you are not conversant with the road, while descending from Abule Egba bridge en route Iyana-Ipaja there is no way that innocent drivers will not enter the BRT lane.
The police and LATSMA have been using this means to rob unsuspecting motorists of their hard-earned money. Today, they have finally killed an about-to-wed man. If the unscrupulous and greedy government agencies had collected the money the deceased offered, the reckless driver wouldn’t have rammed into him and his younger brother.
“We are calling on the state government to withdraw the police and LATSMA from the place, as they are not working for the government but for their pockets. They are making millions every day. They should also do road signs to warn motorists, especially those coming from Ogun State, about BRT lanes. The normal road and the BRT lanes are conjoined and it is difficult to differentiate them. Government agencies have cashed in on the ignorance of motorists to rob them of their money.
“Instead of staying on the entry point to control traffic or direct motorists not to pass there, they would hide somewhere, so when a motorist makes the mistake of entering the BRT road, the officials, with armed policemen, would use sharp objects to barricade the road and swoop on the offender. They would never take any offender who pays above N50,000 to the station, but would end up collecting money from them.”
As at press time, the protesters were still at the scene guarding the Corolla car and chanting war songs. One of them said, “We don’t need BRT, it will never operate on this route again. We don’t need LASTMA and police here. We are tired of arrests and stealing of our hard-earned money. Police and LATSMA are working for their tummy.”
Five police patrol vans were on ground trying to recover the vehicle used in blocking the BRT lane, but the protesters were not ready to give way as they resisted the armed policemen.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “I am aware that a driver who broke the law by passing through the BRT lane hit a man and the man died. I have not been properly briefed.”
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its sustained efforts to rid the FCT of criminal elements with the arrest of a notorious armed robbery syndicate and the recovery of stolen vehicles and other exhibits.
The arrests followed a report by the FCT Police Command that on 18th January 2026, armed robbers broke into a residence in the Jikwoyi area of the FCT, carting away the occupants’ personal belongings, an unspecified sum of money, and their Toyota Corolla vehicle bearing registration number KUJ 549 CW. Acting promptly on the report, Police operatives attached to the Command’s Scorpion Squad commenced an extensive, intelligence-driven investigation.
On 26th January 2026, Police operatives trailed and arrested the gang responsible for the robbery at their hideout in Nasarawa state where they were hibernating and planning another robbery attack in Asokoro area of the FCT.
Suspects arrested include Mohammed Yanusa (21), Abubakar Mohammed (20) Isah Salihu, Nura Zakare (20), John Paul Itodo (62), Augustin Daudu (30), Musbau Ali (32), Innocent Omale (44) and Usman Mohammed (22)
Items recovered from the suspects include: Four television sets, Five HP laptops, Two Lenovo laptops, One Zinox laptop, One Dell laptop, Two generators, Two solar batteries, One pumping machine, One DJ mixer machine, Four club lights, One speaker, Ten bottles of Lambrusco wine.
Also Sixty bottles of red wine, One GOtv decoder, One knife, One cooking gas cylinder, One LG home theatre, One grey Toyota Camry with registration number MUS 234 CW, One ash-coloured Toyota Corolla with registration number KUJ 549 CW, One ash-coloured Toyota Camry with registration number MKD 372 AU.
In the course of investigations, the suspects revealed that they usually sell the stolen vehicles to receivers in Kaduna, Kaduna and Kano states at prices ranging between Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦550,000) to Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦650,000).
Investigations are being expanded to apprehend the receivers of the stolen vehicles. The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The Command informed that to report suspicious persons or activities, FCT residents are urged promptly call the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883.
The High Court of Lagos State has sentenced a truck driver to life imprisonment for killing a FRSC official on active duty. He was charged for involuntary manslaughter which attracted the life sentence.
In a press statement e-signed and released to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP by the FRSC Public Education Officer, ACM Olusegun Ogungbemide at Abuja HQ hinted that the FRSC nationwide is happy about the judgement. ‘The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has described the conviction and life imprisonment sentence handed down to Okpara Kingsley Onyekachi as a landmark victory for justice and road safety enforcement in Nigeria. The judgment, delivered on Tuesday, 14 January 2026, by the High Court of Lagos State (TBS Division) in Suit No. LD/24692C/2024 – The State v. Okpara Kingsley Onyekachi, arose from a fatal road crash that claimed the life of an FRSC officer who was lawfully on duty.’
‘The fatal incident occurred on 16 November 2023 at Orile-Iganmu, Lagos State, while an FRSC patrol team was conducting routine traffic enforcement. Investigations revealed that the defendant, driving a 40-feet container laden truck at excessive speed, failed to exercise due care and rammed into a stationary mini truck that had been flagged down for inspection.’
‘The violent impact crushed Deputy Chief Road Marshal Assistant Ajomale, a personnel actively discharging official duties, leading to fatal injuries. The Court found the driver’s conduct grossly negligent, reckless, and unlawful, rejected any claim of accident, and convicted him of Involuntary Manslaughter, thereby sentencing him to life imprisonment under the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.’
Further, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed described the judgement as one that sends a loud, unmistakable message to all drivers, particularly operators of heavy duty vehicles that recklessness on our roads will no longer be tolerated. When a life is lost due to gross negligence, especially the life of an officer on lawful duty, the law will take its full course, and the Corps will continue to pursue justice relentlessly for every fallen officer and every innocent road user.
The Corps Marshal emphasised that FRSC will intensify enforcement, prosecution support, and stakeholder collaboration to curb dangerous driving behaviours. He warned that drivers who disregard traffic regulations and endanger lives of innocent road Users should expect severe legal consequences; adding that FRSC will not relent in its commitment to safeguarding Nigerian roads as the entire Management and Staff of the Corps honoured the memory of DCRMA Ajomale, whose sacrifice stands as a solemn reminder of the risks faced daily by road safety personnel in the line of duty.
Again, terrorists in Kaduna State have abducted a Catholic priest and 10 other residents while killing three persons during an attack on Karku community in Kauru Local Government Area.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction of Reverend Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, who was reportedly taken alongside the other victims in the early hours of Saturday.
In a statement, the Diocesan Chancellor, Very Reverend Father Jacob Shanet, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and called for prayers for the victims.
‘Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, with profound sadness, we announce the kidnapping of our priest, Rev. Fr. Nathaniel Asuwaye, the Parish Priest of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Karku, Kauru LGA of Kaduna State’, he said.
According to Shanet, the attackers stormed the priest’s residence at about 3:20 a.m., with villagers describing the assault as an invasion by armed terrorists.
‘Fr. Nathaniel was kidnapped alongside ten other people at Karku. At the time of writing this report, the incident has resulted in the killing of three people, Mr. Jacob Dan’azumi, Mr. Maitala Kaura, and Alhaji Kusari, aside from those abducted’, he added.
The diocese urged priests, Christian faithful, and people of goodwill to pray for the safe release of the abducted victims while also praying for those who lost their lives in the attack.
‘The entire Diocese of Kafanchan entrusts them to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their speedy and safe release from the hands of these evildoers’, Shanet stated.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Northern Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Joseph Hayab, described the incident as distressing, warning that kidnappings continue to escalate despite efforts to curb the menace.
‘This is a sad story; the kidnapping is getting too much. It is unfortunate that the abduction of Christian priests and other citizens remains unabated’, he said.
Hayab expressed hope for the victims’ safe return and called on security agencies to intensify efforts to halt the growing wave of kidnappings and killings.
‘We remain hopeful and are praying with the Catholic Church and the parish of the kidnapped priest while calling on security agents to take decisive measures to arrest this growing incident’, he added.
The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Mansir Hassan, was yet to respond to inquiries on the incident.
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