The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has said it will investigate a viral video showing a soldier, identified as Duru I., beating a driver in the Obalende area of the state.
The LASTMA spokesperson, Mahmud Hassan, told our correspondent that the suspect would be made to face the law if the agency could find enough evidence to prove that he drove against traffic.
Our correspondent had reported that the soldier, who was in a Honda Acura with number plate, Oyo AE 996 YYY, was driving against traffic when he blocked the road on Moloney Street.
After allegedly hitting one of the vehicles on the road, the soldier was seen assaulting the driver of the vehicle.
He was later joined by two others, who punched and kicked the victim, as a lady filming the scene lamented the injustice.
The spokesperson for the 81 Division, Lt. Col. Olaolu Dauda, said the incident was isolated, adding that the military would investigate the matter and take necessary action.
The LASTMA spokesperson, Hassan, while speaking with our correspondent on the telephone, said the agency had problems apprehending members of the military, who violate traffic laws.
He said, “The Lagos State Traffic Law does not make provision for anybody irrespective of their position or status to violate the law. We implement the law to prevent anarchy on the road.
“However, we have a little challenge with arresting men in uniform. Many times, our officers have been brutalised and intimidated by them. But we enjoy good support from the top hierarchy of the military.
“So, what we do when we have this kind of situation is to collate our evidence which we forward to their provost marshal or military police and we have seen how they deal with such cases, using their own rules in the confines of their barracks.
“We will activate our team to study the video you are talking about. If we have enough information to enable us to identify the culprit and the vehicle involved, we will submit it to the military authorities to act on.”
