A commercial bus driver who was desperate to prevent his bus from being impounded allegedly set himself, his bus and a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, officer on fire in Lagos.
The incident happened on Tuesday, according to LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki.
Bakare-Oki said: “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, has been made aware of a distressing video showing the driver of a Volkswagen T4 commercial bus, license plate LSD 355 CK, setting both his vehicle and LASTMA officers ablaze in a brazen attempt to evade arrest.
“This shocking incident happened on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, when the driver resisted arrest with extreme aggression by LASTMA officials.
“The vehicle had been intercepted for violating traffic regulations in the Cele inward Mile-2 area.
“In the course of arrest, the driver and his conductor erupted into a frenzy, resorting to pouring petrol on LASTMA personnel and engaging in hostile confrontations and physical attacks against officers present.
“The injured LASTMA officer, who sustained severe burns, was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment.
“LASTMA reiterates its unwavering commitment to preserving order and ensuring the safety of Lagos roads, as stipulated in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.”
A video of the incident recorded by a pedestrian on the nearby bridge showed fire erupting as the driver and the LASTMA officials scampered for safety.
The driver engulfed in flames ran towards the express to remove his clothes and was nearly run over by a speeding fuel tanker.
The LASTMA official closest to the driver at the time was totally engulfed in fire and he had to hurriedly pull off his clothes while his colleagues scampered into their waiting van.
Watch the video here.
