The Lagos State Taskforce has distanced itself from the tragic incident that occurred on the Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos, where a driver evading arrest by traffic officials killed two Lagos State Waste Management Authority sweepers early Monday.
In a statement issued hours after the incident, the Chairman of the Task Force, Shola Jejeloye, vehemently denied any involvement of taskforce officials in the tragedy.
“It is a very sad and most importantly avoidable incident today that has led to the loss of lives. As an Agency, we have a very firm belief that traffic offense is not a criminal offense, therefore it is better for a traffic offender to escape from the scene of the offense than to create madness on the road that could lead to a loss of life,” Jejeloye emphasized.
Jejeloye clarified that none of the Taskforce officials were deployed for any traffic enforcement on that day.
Instead, they were assigned to Ile-Zik, Dopemu, and Ikeja to maintain law and order during the National Union of Road Transport Workers protest.
“The officials involved in this devastating incident will be fished out, arrested, and will be made to answer for their crimes. The suspected motorist who evaded arrest and knocked down these two innocent workers will also be trailed and prosecuted. In this era of social media, there is no hiding place for any criminal,” he added.
The tragic incident led to a demonstration as passersby and motorists protested the killing of the street sweepers.
Security agents, including policemen, arrived at the scene and tear-gassed protesters in an attempt to disperse them and quell the situation.
LAWMA confirmed the death of the two sanitation workers in a statement on Monday.
