Tuesday 28 October 2014

LASTMA Van Kills Bus Conductor

Traffic gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as hoodlums took over the road in the wake of Mr. Ikeckukwu Abasirim's death. INSET: Late Mr. Abasirim. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye. 

A 44-year-old bus conductor was allegedly crushed to death by a vehicle belonging to officials of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, yesterday, at Cele Bus Stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, while the bus driver was avoiding arrest.

According to Vanguard, the incident caused a riot as hoodlums attacked LASTMA officials and also invaded their office at Cele, destroying several vehicles’ windscreens.



Trouble started for the deceased, identified as Ikeckukwu Abasirim, after the driver of the bus, with an unknown identity, was ordered to stop by LASTMA officials at Mile 2, over an unknown offence. The driver of the bus was said to have ignored the order, an action that reportedly led to the LASTMA officials chasing the vehicle.



On arrival at Cele Bus Stop, passengers in the commercial bus disembarked, while the conductor was busy calling in passengers, unknown to them that they were still being trailed by the officials.

Eyewitnesses reported that the LASTMA vehicle blocked the commercial bus, while one of the officials held Ikechukwu and attempted to force him into their operational vehicle.



One witness said: “In the ensuing struggle, one of the officials was said to have swept the conductor off his feet.“He fell and at that moment, the LASTMA official at the wheel was said to have moved the  vehicle. The tyres went over Ikechukwu’s skull, killing him on the spot.”



It was at this point that on-lookers raised an alarm which attracted hoodlums who pounced on the two LASTMA officials.

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