JUST IN: Lagos Driver Sets Self, LASTMA Officer, and Bus on Fire in Shocking Attempt to Evade Arrest

In a startling incident on Tuesday, November 5, a commercial bus driver in Lagos reportedly set himself, his bus, and a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer on fire. The driver’s desperate act is believed to have been an attempt to avoid arrest for a traffic violation.

The LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed the tragic event, describing it as a highly aggressive reaction from the driver when apprehended for violating traffic regulations near the Cele inward Mile-2 area.

“A disturbing video circulating on social media shows the driver of a Volkswagen T4 commercial bus, with license plate LSD 355 CK, setting both his vehicle and LASTMA officers ablaze,” Bakare-Oki stated. “This incident underscores the risks our officers face daily in their efforts to maintain road safety.”

The situation reportedly escalated when LASTMA officers stopped the bus for traffic infractions. As they attempted to detain the driver, he and his conductor resisted aggressively, pouring petrol on LASTMA personnel in a frenzied confrontation. The actions resulted in severe burns to one LASTMA officer, who was rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent care.

Bakare-Oki reiterated LASTMA’s commitment to upholding road safety across Lagos, as outlined in the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, and issued a stern warning to drivers: “LASTMA will not condone any form of violence or intimidation and will take firm and decisive action against those responsible.”

He urged all commercial and private drivers to adhere strictly to traffic laws and respect LASTMA officials as they work to enforce order on Lagos roads.