Commercial Driver Stabs LASTMA Officer with Broken Bottle in Lagos
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has issued a strong condemnation following a violent attack on one of its officers by a commercial bus driver at the Ojota Interchange area of Lagos State. The incident, which occurred over the weekend, involved the driver using a jagged broken bottle to stab the officer in the fingers of his right hand.
Details of the Violent Confrontation
According to a statement released on Sunday, February 15, 2026, by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department at LASTMA, the attack was premeditated and heinous. The commercial vehicle involved was a painted Caravelle GL Volkswagen bus with registration number EKY 693 YK.
The bus was lawfully intercepted by LASTMA enforcement officers for a serious traffic violation. It was operating along the Ojota-Ketu corridor with its passenger door recklessly left open while fully loaded with commuters, creating a dangerous situation for passengers and other road users.
Resistance and Escalation to Violence
Upon being stopped on the main carriageway, the driver displayed brazen insubordination by strenuously resisting lawful arrest. He attempted a hazardous escape by mounting the road median in a desperate bid to flee the scene.
His attempted flight was abruptly curtailed when the vehicle became mechanically immobilized. Frustrated by the collapse of his escape plan, the suspect descended into unrestrained violence.
In a shocking display of brutality, he seized a jagged broken bottle from within the bus and lunged menacingly at the enforcement officers. He stabbed one officer in the fingers of his right hand, causing severe fractures and significant blood loss before fleeing the scene in what authorities described as a cowardly retreat.
Immediate Response and Consequences
Notwithstanding the assailant's escape, the offending vehicle was immediately impounded in strict compliance with statutory provisions. The injured officer was promptly evacuated to a medical facility where he underwent emergency surgical intervention.
Due to the gravity of the fractures sustained, two fingers required immediate operative reconstruction. The officer remains under close medical observation and is receiving comprehensive care as he recovers from the traumatic attack.
Official Condemnation and Investigation
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed profound outrage and unequivocal condemnation of what he called a reprehensible act. He affirmed that the incident is being thoroughly investigated by the Police, with prosecutorial measures underway to ensure the apprehension and diligent prosecution of the perpetrator.
Mr. Bakare-Oki reiterated that any act of violence against traffic enforcement personnel constitutes a direct affront to lawful authority and civil order. He admonished commercial transport operators to desist from reckless noncompliance with traffic laws, warning that the Authority will continue to intensify enforcement operations to safeguard public safety and uphold regulatory discipline across Lagos State.
The Agency remains steadfast in its statutory mandate to entrench orderliness, discipline and the seamless flow of traffic throughout the metropolis. Acts of lawlessness and violent resistance will invariably attract a firm and uncompromising lawful response, according to the official statement.
