Lagos traffic officials arrested for killing commercial bus driver

The police is investigating officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency over the killing of a commercial bus driver, Isaac Popoola.
Popoola, 54, died on Monday when a LASTMA official allegedly hit his head on the bus he (Popoola) was driving as they struggled for the control of the steering wheel.
The Eagle Online gathered that trouble started when the bus driver, who was heading to Oshodi from Egbeda/Akowonjo around 6am on Monday, was blocked by a LASTMA patrol van as he approached Oshodi.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity said: “Two LASTMA officers came down from their vehicle and told the driver to come down and he refused.
“The driver was asking the LASTMA officials what his offence was but they refused to tell him.
“That was how the LASTMA officers began to struggle for the steering with the driver.
“IN the process, they hit his head on the steering.
“And before help could come, the driver had died.”
Popoola’s death led to anger and tension in the area as a mob pounced on one of the LASTMA officers.
He would have been lynched but for the prompt intervention of policemen.
Popoola was driving a bus Lagos registration number XL 166 SMK.
The case was incidented at the Area F Police Station in Ikeja, Lagos State.
In a statement by Babatunde Edu, the General Manager of LASTMA, the agency washed its hands off the conduct of its officials in the Popoola case.
Edu said the agency will not tolerate recklessness by its officials, adding that the officers “acted on their own.”
The agency gave the names of the officers as “Adesanya Olatunde and Ogunride Oludele as some of the culprits who flouted operational guidelines.”
Edu added: “Adesanya was later identified by the Provost Marshall of the agency and handed over to the police while Oludele, who was reported to be off duty as at the time of the incident, was still at large.
“Effort is on to arrest other suspects connected with the incident.”
Popoola’s wife, Dupe, and other relatives are demanding justice.
Dupe said: “When my husband left home, he was okay.
“He was not sick and now they have killed him.
“Who will take care of my children?
“Who will take care of me?”