LASTMA: When the threatened becomes a threat

In recent times, the spate of attacks on Lagos traffic managers has increasingly become disturbing, troubling and worrisome. Officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been at the receiving end of various forms of maltreatment from some unruly armed security agents, errant and violent motorists and other traffic violators.

Out of frustration atimes, some motorists vent the anger of having stayed long in traffic on the traffic officers by throwing various abusive words at them. This is because the officers on duty may probably not have passed their lane of vehicle queue in good time. While managing traffic, these officers are saddled with the responsibility of also exhibiting high level of emotional intelligence in controlling their temperaments when frustrated and angry motorists spill out provocative words at them. That’s where their test of patience with all road users comes to play.

Just few days ago, a LASTMA officer, Mr Kehinde Sonaike was knocked off the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos into the lagoon by an over-speeding reckless driver. The hit-and-run driver sped off with his vehicle having seen the gravity of his action. It was reported that Sonaike was assisting a motorist whose car broke down when he was hit. Thank goodness he’s still alive to tell the story as he was lucky that the fishermen around came to his rescue in good time.

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In defence of these unarmed traffic controllers in Lagos and in view of the tragic occurrences that have befallen the agency in time past, many concerned Nigerians have called for more protective measures to be put in place for these officers against any form of physical attack or assault.Last year, LASTMA suffered terrible losses of its officers to criminally-minded attackers. The officers died in the course of maintaining traffic laws. Official statistics in 2018 showed that 18 LASTMA officers were carelessly killed and 24 others were permanently rendered incapacitated.

But lately, the narrative appears to have changed. The hunter is being hunted as it were. On April 24, a journalist, Mr Emmanuel Aigbodega, was allegedly brutalised by some LASTMA officers at Maryland area of Lagos. He was reportedly accused of being in a vehicle which allegedly allowed a traffic violator escape. LASTMA Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr Hassan Mamud, in his reaction, said: “We have been orientating our officials to stop such acts. We are taking them through a process of being polite and civil in dealing with members of the public.”

In a follow-up action, LASTMA had invited the journalist to its Oshodi office to make his statement and complaint official.  While we commend the action of LASTMA by not shielding these bad eggs among their officers, we also urge them to fish out other black sheep who masquerade as committed traffic officers. These over–zealous officers must be brought to book to deter other officers from doing same.

Kayode Ojewale

kayodeojewale@gmail.com