Two bus drivers jailed for leading mob assault on LASTMA officials
Two commercial bus drivers in Lagos have been sentenced to three months in prison by a mobile court for masterminding a violent mob attack on traffic officers with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
This was confirmed in a statement issued Wednesday by LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki.
The two convicted drivers, Mohammed Musa and Muhammed Nasara, were said to have mobilized other transport operators to assault LASTMA personnel who were enforcing traffic laws around the Victoria Island-Lekki corridor on Monday.
Mr Bakare-Oki described the assault as “brazen and unprovoked,” noting that it occurred within the vicinity of LASTMA Central District (Zone 9, Victoria Island).
The attack reportedly began after a white commercial minibus with registration number SMK 742 YJ was impounded for violating traffic rules near Mekwen Bridge, inward Flag House.
“In a blatant act of defiance, the vehicle’s driver mobilised a group of fellow commercial transport operators, who arrived at the scene in two additional minibuses (GGE 995 YF) and unleashed a premeditated and vicious attack on the LASTMA officials,” the statement read.
Timely intervention by security operatives led to the arrest of the two drivers, who were immediately charged before the Lagos Mobile Court sitting in Oshodi on April 8.
Mr Bakare-Oki said the ruling would serve as a deterrent to others, particularly defiant commercial drivers, stating that, “This sentence will send a strong message to those who think they can harass government officials without consequences.”
