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Protesters clash with LASTMA, Police over death of motorist
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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.”
A 46-year-old man posing as a medical doctor, who identified himself as Osazee Okungbowa, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command.
Okungbowa was arrested after a woman he allegedly assisted during childbirth reported to the police that her baby was missing.
He was paraded alongside 44 other suspects, including alleged kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and murder suspects, by the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, on Friday.
Parading the suspects, Agbonika said they were arrested through intelligence-driven operations and coordinated tactical responses carried out across the state during the period under review.
Providing a breakdown of the arrests, the police commissioner said 15 suspected cultists, three suspected armed robbers, 11 murder suspects, and 14 suspects linked to rape and defilement cases were apprehended.
He said the command had intensified operations against kidnappers, cultists, armed robbers, and other violent criminals through enhanced intelligence-led policing.
According to him, the command’s determination to ensure that criminal elements have no hiding place in Edo State has been strengthened by sustained efforts that continue to yield significant operational successes.
He said: “The accomplishments we showcase today are the outcome of the commitment, professionalism, and selflessness of officers of the Edo State Police Command, working in close collaboration with other security agencies and with the patriotic support of the public.
“Within the period under review, a total of 45 suspects involved in violent crimes were arrested.
“These achievements underscore our unwavering resolve to rid Edo State of criminal elements and demonstrate that the command remains proactive, responsive, and relentless in confronting every form of violent crime.
“As we continue the fight against criminality, I sincerely thank the law-abiding citizens of Edo State for their continued cooperation and confidence in the police. The timely information, intelligence, and assistance we receive from members of the public remain crucial to our operational successes.”
Speaking on his arrest, Okungbowa said: “I am a clinic doctor and the manager of Grace Health Nursery and Maternity. The owner of the hospital is licensed and employs both qualified and unqualified staff.
“On that day, a man identified as Mr. Godwin brought a pregnant woman to the hospital and informed me that she was due for delivery. I was unwell at the time and told them I could not handle the delivery.
“I then called a colleague to assist at the facility. According to her, the woman agreed, and she delivered the baby the following day. After the delivery, the nurse said the baby was premature and should be taken to an incubator, but the baby later died.
“I was trained as an auxiliary nurse in 2003 and have worked in different hospitals as a health assistant.”
Kidnapped victims from Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State have narrated how they escaped from their abductors, stressing that they escaped after their abductors slept off.
Speaking on behalf of other victims at the Edo. State Police Command Headquarters during a parade of the suspects, Braimah Destiny said their abductors became tired after making them (victims) walk all night.
Braimah, who narrated that he was returning from the farm when he ran into six men armed with guns and cutlasses, disclosed that the kidnappers abducted 10 other persons and took them into the forest.
He narrated, “I was coming from the farm when I met six of them armed with guns and matchets. They also captured others making us 11 victims. They took us from one bush to another. It was around 6:00PM and we heard the police shooting. They made us walk throughout the night. We got to a place and they told us to hide. They were very tired and they slept off.
“That was how we helped ourselves and ran away. We ran to the police station and went to meet the police. The kidnappers beat us and maltreated us.”
Another victim, Gloria Inyanugbo, who identified her abductors said she spent four days at the kidnappers’ den before her husband paid N3m for her release.
“I was kidnapped on the 12th of January when I was working inside the farm. They asked how much I have in my account after taking me inside the bush. I spent four days. until my husband raised N3m and another N300,000 to buy hard drugs, food and other items.
“Community vigilante nabbed two of them inside the bush and the police arrested the other through tracking. I saw one of them that boasted that nobody can do him anything. I can’t imagine the police could.arrrest them.”
A woman identified as Nana Batula and her two children have regained their freedom after spending about one month in the custody of armed bandits in Zamfara State.
The victims were abducted on May 30, 2026, when suspected bandits reportedly attacked their family home in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.
During the attack, the assailants allegedly killed Batula’s husband, Sagir Umar, before abducting his wife and their two children.
Security analyst Bakatsine confirmed the family’s release in a post shared on July 1, 2026.
A source close to the family also confirmed that the victims had returned safely, expressing gratitude for their release after weeks in captivity.
According to the source, Nana Batula and her children are currently receiving medical attention and psychological support following their ordeal.
Police have yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding their release.
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