IN a shocking event in Lagos, a commercial bus driver allegedly splashed a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer with petrol and set him ablaze in an attempt to evade arrest in the busy Mile 2 area.
LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, stated that officers had pulled over the driver for violating traffic regulations when he and his conductor began resisting arrest.
Taofiq explained that in a bid to escape the authorities, the driver sprayed petrol on both his bus and the officers nearby, ignited the fuel, and then fled the scene.
Footage of the incident, involving a Volkswagen T4 bus with the license plate LSD 355 CK, captures the driver acting aggressively before igniting the bus and injuring LASTMA personnel.
The officer, who suffered severe burns, was promptly taken to a nearby hospital for urgent medical care.
LASTMA condemned this violent act and called on all drivers to adhere to traffic laws and cooperate with law enforcement. The agency affirmed its commitment to pursuing justice, declaring, “LASTMA will not tolerate any violence or intimidation against its officers.”
The Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018 supports LASTMA’s mandate to maintain order on the roads, and the agency reiterated its dedication to ensuring the safety of Lagos roads while taking decisive actions against such extreme acts of defiance.