PBA ReporterUnidentified commercial bus driver, reportedly set himself ablaze in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos because the officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, seized his only means of livelihood, having lost his job last year.
Eyewitnesses said trouble started when two LASTMA officials dragged him out of his bus for allegedly breaking traffic rules and started the ignition for onward movement to their base at Oshodi.
It was then, he knew all hopes were gone. The driver simply splashed fuel on his body and struck a stick of matches in protest. But LASTMA just ignored him and was bent on moving the vehicle to their office.
On this, other commercial bus drivers and conductors, including passers-by, started hauling stones at the LASTMA officials while efforts were made to put out the fire and save the victim.
Many other commercial drivers were reportedly seen making a U-Turn to avoid escalating the fire.
According to an eye witness, Tajudeen Onipekun: “The LASTMA officials were attacked because they never cared about the victim that was on fire. Rather, they were more interested on moving the vehicle away. The driver was eventually rushed to the hospital.
“The driver lost his job last year and just got the commercial bus last November,” his colleague narrated.
Many commercials bus drivers took turns to tell their own LASTMA story.
Another bus driver who simply identified his name as Wadada, said: “LATSMA officials are treating us like slaves. They arrest and extort us at will. We go through hell in their hands and those of agberos and local government officials. How much do we make?
“Out of the money we make daily, we will buy fuel, return money to the vehicle owners and at the end of the day we are left with little or nothing. We are appealing to the state government to wade into the matter and save us from the hands of LASTMA officials,” he shared.
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