• ‘I was following the Police,’ driver confesses as security team escapes arrest • Lagos Govt vows prosecution, declares zero tolerance for impunity

By Our Reporter

LAGOS — There was mild drama on the Lekki-Ajah corridor as operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) intercepted a bullion van driving against traffic, prompting the police escort attached to the vehicle to flee the scene to evade arrest.

The incident, which occurred along the Chevron-Ajah axis, has drawn the ire of the Lagos State Government, which has described it as a flagrant abuse of privilege and a reckless endangerment of lives.

The Arrest The bullion van driver, identified as Mr. Daniel Ikede, was apprehended while transporting cash from a First Bank branch at Chevron towards Ajah. He was flagged down for violating the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018, which strictly prohibits driving against the designated flow of traffic (One-Way).

In a shocking twist during interrogation, Mr. Ikede reportedly confessed to LASTMA officials that he was not acting alone. He claimed he had driven in the prohibited direction on the instructions of the police escort vehicle leading his convoy.

However, upon sighting the determined LASTMA enforcement team, the police officers in the escort vehicle reportedly zoomed off, abandoning the bullion van driver to face the consequences alone.

Reacting to the development, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa, condemned the act in strong terms. He described the incident as the height of recklessness and an abuse of perceived privilege by those who should uphold the law.

Giwa emphasized that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has zero tolerance for traffic violations, regardless of the status of the offender.

“One-way driving is among the most dangerous traffic offences in Lagos, often resulting in avoidable accidents, property damage, and traffic chaos,” Giwa warned. “Compliance with traffic regulations is mandatory for all road users, regardless of status or the presence of security personnel.”

Also speaking, the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, reiterated that the agency remains unbowed in its duty to restore sanity to Lagos roads.

“Traffic laws are binding for all motorists—private, commercial, corporate, and even those under security escort. Violations will attract strict enforcement measures to protect lives and maintain smooth traffic flow,” Taofiq stated.

The apprehended driver and the impounded bullion van remain in custody and are set to be charged to court in accordance with the state’s traffic laws.

#LASTMA #LagosTraffic #OneWay #BullionVan #Japa #LagosGist #LawAndOrder #SanwoOlu #MetroNews