Metro

Protesters clash with LASTMA, Police over death of motorist

Published

4 weeks ago

November 13, 2024

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.”

Metro

Finally, police arrest suspected killer of former permanent secretary in Niger State

Published

10 hours ago

December 9, 2024

Naijablitznews

The police on Saturday arrested an 18-year-old painter over the murder of a retired Permanent Secretary, Adamu Jagaba, in Niger State.

Mr Jagaba was stabbed to death Saturday evening at a block industry along the Eastern Bye-pass, Minna and his attackers also stole his vehicle.

The police spokesperson in the state, Wasi’u Abiodun, said the incident was reported to the Tudun-Wada police division on Saturday.

He added that the victim was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was confirmed dead.

However, at about 7 p.m. on the same day, a police team intercepted Mr Jagaba’s stolen vehicle on Bosso Estate Road, Minna, with the 18-year-old suspect, Fatiyah Abdulhakeem.

Mr Abiodun said the suspect under interrogation said he was the victim’s car painter and had just visited him at his block industry opposite the PDP Secretariat in Minna.

He allegedly further said that after discussing changing the vehicle bumper, he stabbed Mr Jagaba multiple times on the head and neck before driving away his vehicle.

The suspect allegedly confessed that he conspired with some of the deceased’s workers in committing the crime.

Mr Abiodun said the police were after other suspects as they continued their investigation.

Metro

Police foil two kidnap attempts, rescue 20 victims in Katsina

Published

17 hours ago

December 9, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Katsina State Police Command has foiled two separate kidnap attempts in Jibia and Faskari Local Government Areas of the state.

The command also rescued 20 kidnapped victims during the operations on Saturday in these areas.

Briefing newsmen on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq, said the first incident occurred on December 7th, 2024, at about 19:00 hours at Kwanar Makera along the Katsina–Magamar Jibia road in Jibia LGA.
A group of armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons such as AK-47 rifles, opened fire on a moving vehicle, attempting to abduct the occupants.

“However, operatives of the command attached to the Jibia Divisional Police Headquarters, acting on a tip-off, swiftly responded and engaged the bandits in a gun duel, forcing them to abandon their mission and flee the scene with gunshot injuries. All ten occupants of the vehicle were successfully rescued unharmed.

“In a similar incident, on the same date at about 20:30 hours at Marabar Bangori, along the Funtua–Gusau road in Faskari LGA, suspected armed bandits laid an ambush on a motor vehicle carrying passengers. The command’s operatives, alerted to the situation, quickly mobilised and stormed the scene, engaging the bandits in a fierce gun duel. Due to superior firepower, the bandits abandoned their heinous plan and fled the scene, with all the passengers successfully rescued.

“Unfortunately, one of the rescued victims was rushed to the hospital due to severe assault inflicted on him by the assailants. The victim is currently responding to medical treatment.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, psc†, while commending the gallantry and professionalism displayed by the officers, charged them to sustain the tempo in the ongoing fight against all forms of crime and criminality in the state, reiterating the command’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the people of the state,” Sadiq said.

Metro

Newly-wed narrowly escape death, 16 others sustain injuries on 3rd Mainland bridge auto crash

Published

2 days ago

December 8, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A newly wedded couple who were returning from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry alongside 16 other passengers sustained varying degrees of injuries following a multi-vehicle collision on Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State on Saturday.

According to a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the accident occurred when an LT bus developed brake failure while at speed and collided with a mini truck.

The impact of the collision was said to have led to the occupants of both vehicles sustaining varying degrees of injuries including fractured limbs.

He identified the vehicles involved as a mini truck with number plate AGL 22 YE and a commercial LT bus with number plate BFG 204 XF.

Taofiq said, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, in collaboration with emergency response agencies, today orchestrated the successful rescue of 18 individuals involved in a serious vehicular collision on the Third Mainland Bridge, near Ilaje, heading towards Iyana Oworonsoki.

“Among the victims were a newlywed couple returning to the mainland from the Ikoyi Marriage Registry. The accident, which involved a mini truck (AGL 22 YE) and a commercial LT bus (BFG 204 XF), was attributed to a brake failure on the LT bus, which was travelling at excessive speed.

“The bus collided with the mini truck, which was moving slowly due to mechanical difficulties. A total of 16 passengers seated in the rear of the LT bus, 11 women and 5 men, sustained significant injuries and were swiftly transported to the Lagos State Trauma and Emergency Centre near the Toll Gate on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for urgent medical care.”

Taofiq added that two of the victims suffered severe injuries after being trapped in the wreckage of the LT bus and were later rushed to Gbagada General Hospital for specialised treatment.