The management of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has initiated a disciplinary procedure against the five traffic officials involved in the alleged attack on a PUNCHman, Emmanuel Aigbodeja, in the Maryland area of Lagos.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the major culprits, identified as Abdulrahman, Dawoudu, Afolabi, and two others, had been withdrawn from the road and isolated from others as they await discipline.
The agency said the issue would be pursued to a logical conclusion without fear or favour to serve as a deterrent to others.
PUNCH Metro had reported that 38-year-old Aigbodega, who was on night duty, was returning home from work around 9.30am last Tuesday when he had an encounter with the officials.
A vehicle which the victim had boarded on his way home had been accused by the LASTMA men of allowing a traffic law violator escape.
The traffic officers had held the Edo State indigene after he alighted from the car, ordering him to enter their vehicle.
He was allegedly beaten with sticks, as the men allegedly pummelled him while passersby filmed the scene with their phones.
Aigbodega claimed that he was detained by the officials till around 7pm.
After the report, Nigerians condemned the alleged action of the men and demanded they be sanctioned.
Some readers recounted their experiences with some of the officials, calling for a reform of the agency.
The LASTMA Public Relations Officer, Mamud Hassan, in a statement on Sunday, said the management of the agency frowned on the conduct of the men, adding that they did not represent LASTMA well.
According to the statement, the General Manager of the agency, Olawale Musa, said despite efforts at re-orientating the officers to be civil to members of the public, it was disheartening to hear that Aigbodega was attacked.
Musa stated that the officers had deviated from the agency’s operational policy of being civil and polite when dealing with members of the public irrespective of the situation.
He said all the officers involved in the “unwholesome act have been consequently withdrawn from the road and isolated from others, while the disciplinary procedure which commenced with the issuance of queries will be pursued to a logical conclusion without fear or favour to serve as a deterrent to others.”
He assured members of the public that the agency would not condone flagrant violation of public rights under whatever disguise, and erring officers would be dealt with accordingly.
Despite the incidence, the general manager enjoined motorists to always cooperate with LASTMA officials on the road to facilitate their ease of traffic control.
He asked that unruly officers of the agency should be reported for disciplinary action.
“I also want to invite the victim so that we can do a whole lot in dealing with the matter,” the LASTMA PRO said.
