Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has debunked the claim that its officials were involved in setting a bus ablaze in the Obanikoro area of the state.
Assistant Director, Public Affairs, LASTMA, Olumide Filade, in a statement on Friday, June 24, said the management of the agency, after assessing the trending video where it was alleged that officials of the agency were complicit in the act, refuted the claim.
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He noted;
Attention of the management of the LASTMA has been drawn to a video trending online since Thursday, June 23, 2022, alleging complicity of officials in the burning of a bus at Obanikoro area on Ikorodu Road by an uninformed blogger on Facebook.
LASTMA management after due diligence on the video sympathises with the vehicle owner but categorically denies complicity of any of its officers in the incident portrayed in the video.
Olumide Filade further said;
Rather, one of the LASTMA patrol officers offering a helping hand with the burning vehicle was severely injured by uncalled-for mob action which seems to be occurring nowadays at the slightest alarm.
The video report lacked pictorial evidence of LASTMA officers’ complicity; those interviewed were neither eyewitnesses nor people directly involved in the incident, rather, they were people living within the inside street, close to the scene of the incident on Ikorodu Road.
Filade added that the evidence was hear-say and came in the aftermath of the arrival of the agency’s officers.
Furthermore, there was the presence of firefighters who rendered assistance in putting out the fire.
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He added;
LASTMA officials do not operate within side street and over time, the state government has announced zero-tolerance to attack on its officials while performing their duties as enshrined in the laws or as directed.
We wish to reiterate that LASTMA personnel must not be attacked/assaulted while performing their duties or rendering service to the public.
The management also use this opportunity to advise reporters/bloggers to endeavour to conduct proper investigation and present facts rather than sentiments in their reportage for a peaceful and orderly society.
