POLICE DETAIN 8 DISABLED MEN FOR ATTACKING LASTMA OFFICIALS
Eight disabled men in Lagos have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command, as at yesterday for allegedly attacking officials of Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA).
They allegedly invaded LASTMA office on Lagos Island last weekend because its officials impounded a mini-bus with the inscription: 'Disabled person.'
Daily Sun gathered that there was pandemonium as the scores of disabled men came into the premises with whatever objects they could lay their hands on. Some of the officials scampered for safety.
One of the LASTMA officials who pleaded anonymity said the mini buses that conveyed the disabled persons were parked in another street, while they moved to their office, using wheel chairs.
A police source disclosed that the aggrieved persons had demanded for the release of the vehicle. He said the LASTMA officials neglected the disabled people and they felt insulted. They threatened to fight the officials inside their office. The threat only made the officials to laugh.
The LASTMA officials argued and laughed at them, saying 'nobody is above the law. If the driver used the vehicle to commit an offence, we have to impound the vehicle and even arrest the driver.'
When all attempts to make the officials see reason fell on deaf ears, they allegedly attacked the officials.
Some of the officials ran for their dear life as some escaped through the window. Two officials who wanted to resist the attack were beaten black and blue. The officials identified as Akinpelu Ayuba and another official escaped death by the whiskers.
The aggrieved persons inflicted them with injuries. A police source disclosed that some of the disabled men persons were sportsmen, especially those who engage in weight lifting. The injured officials were treated in a Lagos general hospital. As policemen attached to Adeniji Adele Division nabbed eight of the disabled persons who allegedly committed the act, one of the crime fighters said they would soon be charged to court for disturbance of public peace and assault.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has threatened to arrest and prosecute drivers that use express road as their loading parks. Also to be prosecuted are motor touts popularly known as agberos, who collect money from the drivers.
Deputy Commissioner of police in-charge of Operations (DC OPS), Mr. Tunde Sobulo with his men had earlier on Monday raided some areas including Iyana Ipaja under Bridge in search of drivers and touts who violated the law. Lagos State police Commissioner, Mr. Yakubu Alkali, warned that the hunting of drivers and touts who use express roads as parks or loading points was a continuous exercise.