By Praise Agbro, Lagos
The Attorney general of Lagos State and Commissioner of Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo has ordered the immediate arrest and prosecution of anyone who attacks and assaults government and security officials on lawful duty.
This was in reaction to the recent attack on LASTMA officials during which one of them was stabbed.
The Commissioner of Justice during a meeting with State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, condemned the attack and ordered the arrest and prosecution of all those involved.
He strongly condemned the stabbing of Awotola Victor Olatunde, a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Team Leader who was brutally cut at the Berger area by a driver, Ibrahim Yusuf, a native of Osun State.
Yusuf went in a rage after being stopped for disobeying the law while driving a Suzuki mini‐van with Reg. No. KJA 953 YE.
The commissioner said Yusuf obstructed traffic, stopping to pick passengers at different spots not designated as bus stops along the route.
“In a bid to arrest the attacker for violating traffic rules, he ran into the market and reappeared with a butcher’s knife with which he stabbed the LASTMA team leader, Officer Awotola Victor Olatunde, on the head and throat.
“The accused further threatened to kill him and leave Lagos State afterwards. All efforts to arrest the violent attacker proved abortive as he was still threatening to kill the official.
“Yusuf was later brought to the Police Station by the Chairman of the Berger Park and was immediately charged to court before Magistrate Mrs. Kubeinje of Court 4, Ogba, for attempted murder and assault occasioning harm,” Onigbanjo said.
The offences are contrary to Sections 230 and 173 respectively of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
According to the Attorney-General, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) will issue the Legal Advice expeditiously and prosecute the case diligently adding that the prosecution would serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders and attackers, vowing that Lagos government would no longer tolerate assaults