Drama as bus driver sets himself, LASTMA officials ablaze

A shocking incident unfolded in Lagos on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, when a commercial bus driver, attempting to avoid arrest for a traffic violation, set himself and Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) officials ablaze in the Mile 2 area.

The incident, which has sent shockwaves across Lagos, occurred on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, in the Cele inward Mile-2 area where the driver had been pulled over for violating traffic regulations.

In a video circulating on social media sighted by News360 Nigeria, a yellow-coloured 14-passenger city bus was parked almost in the middle of the road with at least 8 traffic officers clustered in front of it while involved in an argument with the driver.

In a twinkle of an eye, fire erupted and caught the traffic managers unaware. Not all of them were lucky to escape unhurt.

A man suspected to be the driver is caught in the fire too. He runs into the middle of the road, struggling to pull off his white singlet. In the process, he is almost hit by a petrol tanker.

Adebayo Taofiq, the director of the public affairs and enlightenment department at LASTMA, confirmed the incident in a statement.

The statement reads; “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been made aware of a distressing video showing the driver of a Volkswagen T4 commercial bus, license plate LSD 355 CK, setting both his vehicle and LASTMA officers ablaze in a brazen attempt to evade arrest.

“This shocking event transpired today, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, when the driver resisted arrest with extreme aggression by LASTMA officials. The vehicle had been intercepted for violating traffic regulations in the Cele inward Mile 2 area.

“In the course of arrest, the driver and his conductor erupted into a frenzy, resorting to pouring petrol on LASTMA personnel and engaging in hostile confrontations and physical attacks against officers present.”

LASTMA added that the injured officer was rushed to a hospital for treatment.

“The injured LASTMA officer, who sustained severe burns, was immediately transported to a nearby hospital for urgent medical treatment,” the agency stated.

Commercial bus drivers are not new to clashes with LASTMA and the Lagos state traffic officials.

In 2022, A commercial vehicle driver himself ablaze in the Ajao Estate area of Lagos, to protest the seizure of his bus by officials of the LASTMA.

Two LASTMA officials were said to have dragged him out of the vehicle and started the ignition for onward movement to their base at Oshodi.

As they were about to move, the driver, according to eyewitnesses, poured fuel on his body and struck a stick of matches.

While efforts were on to put out the fire, other commercial bus drivers and conductors, including passers-by, started hauling stones at the LASTMA officials, a development that degenerated into a fight between the officials and hoodlums.