Female Tricycle Rider Battles For Her Life After LASTMA Official Almost Pushed Her To Death (Photo)

A female tricycle operator in Lagos, Remi Johnson, is
currently fighting for her life at the Federal Road Safety Commission hospital
at Ojodu, Lagos following an attack by a LASTMA official. P.m.News gathered that Johnson, a widow and mother of two,
was attacked by an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority for
pleading on behalf of her brother, Smart Ofariko, who was arrested at
Ogba-Ojodu road for obstructing traffic.

Investigations revealed that Ofariko was arrested by LASTMA
officials for parking his tricycle at Aguda Bus Stop to receive a phone call.

Narrating the incident to P.M.News, Ofariko explained that
he called Johnson when he was asked to pay N5,000 by the LASTMA officials. He
denied obstructing traffic, saying that he parked his tricycle at a bus stop to
receive his call.

When Johnson arrived, one of the LASTMA officials identified
as Mr. Raimi Odukoya attached to Ojodu zone, asked her not to intervene in the
matter and allegedly pushed her and she fell down, hitting her head on the
floor.

She passed out and was rushed to the FRSC hospital along
Ojodu-Berger Road by the LASTMA officials.

“My sister would have died but I thank God that the nurses
on duty saved her life,” Ofariko stated during a visit to the hospital with our
correspondent.

When contacted, Head of Public Relations Unit of LASTMA,
Bola Ajao, said Johnson was not pushed or attacked by LASTMA officials as
alleged.

She explained that Johnson collapsed when she was asked to
pay a certain amount of money before her impounded tricycle would be released
to her for preventing LASTMA officials from performing their duty.

“When I called LASTMA officers at Ojodu-Berger, they told me
that Mrs. Johnson was not pushed but collapsed after being told to pay a
certain amount of money before she could collect her impounded tricycle,” Ajao
explained on phone.

Reacting to the incident, Chairman, Duact Accord Business
Limited, the franchise operator for tricycle operators in Ojodu, Akeem Adebeso,
expressed shock over the manner the widow was treated by LASTMA officials.

“We have reported the matter at the Ojodu Police Station. We
can no longer tolerate the excesses of LASTMA officials in Ojodu. We want
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to intervene in this matter. Our members are always
harassed by LASTMA officials and it is time to stop it,” he said.