Lagos police command launch investigation into attack on traffic officer, hunt for fleeing driver

Joy Joseph, Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigation into the attack on a Traffic Officer, attached to the Abattoir Police Division, Daudu Ajayi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

Ajayi in a viral video was attacked on Wednesday after he stopped the driver of a Dyna vehicle with Reg. No. BDG 746 YA, from escaping after hitting and injuring a commercial motorcyclist.

The said driver, had smashed a bottle on the officers head and even beaten him up, leading to various degree of injuries.

According to the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, efforts are on to arrest the driver who fled the scene after the incident.

In a statement condemning the act, Adejobi said: “The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, was taken aback by the act of the driver and some individuals in the viral video and ordered that the case be thoroughly investigated while the driver and his accomplices involved in the dastardly act be caused to face the full wrath of the law.

“The fact of the case is that on Wednesday 21st April 2021, at about 12.30 pm, there was a case of hit and run serious accident involving a vehicle with Reg No BDG 756 YA, which hit a Camry car with Reg No. KJA 281 GQ, and as a result a motorcycle rider, Ashiru Saadu, m, was affected and seriously injured.

“In the process, the driver of the Camry car waited but the driver of the Dyna vehicle with Reg. No. BDG 746 YA escaped from the scene. Then, the Traffic Officer gave him a chase and was stopped at Pipeline Area Oko-Oba, Lagos. The driver alighted from the vehicle, pounced on the Traffic Officer, and broke a bottle on his head. The officer sustained varying degrees of injuries.

“The Commissioner of Police has again warned the general public to desist from launching attacks on police personnel and other security agencies in the state as such will be tactically resisted and culprits (attackers) be dealt with in line with the provisions of the law.

“He has vowed to get the fleeing driver arrested and prosecuted so as to serve as a deterrent to others like him in our society, and to ascertain that the command will not tolerate any act of lawlessness in the state.”

Recall that just recently, one Victor Ebhomenyen was arrested for attacking and severely injuring an operative of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Erhator Sunday, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

Sunday who was armed with an AK47 rifle displayed a high level of professionalism and did not react. He was also recently recognized by the Lagos State Government for the act.