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Protesters on Tuesday gathered in Abule-Egba, to demand the dismissal of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officials following the tragic death of a motorist.
According to a report by Daily Trust, the deceased was struck by a commercial driver allegedly fleeing from LASTMA officers attempting to enforce traffic laws.
The incident reportedly began when LASTMA officials, accompanied by police officers, stopped a Toyota Corolla driver for allegedly veering into a BRT lane. Witnesses, including a bystander named Tolupe, alleged that the driver, soon to be married, pleaded with the officials, explaining he wasn’t aware of the restricted lane due to a lack of signage. “He offered N40,000, but they insisted on N100,000,” Tolupe said, as reported by Daily Trust.
“The officials threatened to tow his vehicle unless he paid in full. He and his brother then agreed to N70,000, but they refused and directed him to a nearby POS to withdraw more.”
During these negotiations, another vehicle also reportedly fleeing LASTMA crashed into the Corolla, killing the driver instantly and injuring his brother, who was taken to the hospital. Outraged by the accident, bystanders and local traders accused LASTMA of exploiting motorists, particularly those unfamiliar with the area’s layout.
The protesters barricaded the BRT lane with the Corolla and other debris, demanding accountability. “There are no signs showing this is a BRT lane,” a local trader told Daily Trust. “Drivers who don’t know the area are tricked into entering, and LASTMA officials take advantage to extort money. Today, it led to an innocent man’s death.”
A protester added, “This isn’t the first time officials have extorted people here. The government needs to act—they’re here to serve the public, not line their own pockets.”
Police patrols arrived to disperse the protest, but demonstrators continued to resist, insisting on justice. When reached for comment, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said, “I am aware that a driver who broke the law by passing through the BRT lane hit a man, and the man died. I have not been fully briefed on the incident.”