LASTMA, Soldiers clash: Army condemns officers’

In a recent incident that has sparked public outrage, the Nigerian Army has condemned the misconduct displayed by a group of soldiers allegedly involved in an altercation with an official from the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

The Army has affirmed its commitment to promoting traffic compliance among its personnel following the incident.

A video clip, lasting 31 seconds, has gone viral, capturing a distressing scene where five unidentified soldiers, concealing their identities with scarves, were seen engaged in a confrontation.

Additionally, at least two civilians were present, one of whom also chose to mask their face.

The video recorded a disturbing scene in which one of the soldiers kicked a LASTMA official with his booted foot while the official was on the ground, beseeching for leniency.

The LASTMA official’s uniform had been torn during the altercation, and he was subjected to repeated kicks from the soldiers and civilians present.

The distressing video portrays a scene of aggression, with the official’s pleas seemingly falling on deaf ears.

Meanwhile, a 16-second video has surfaced, capturing a LASTMA official engaging in a physical altercation with a soldier inside a commercial bus.

The video depicts the LASTMA official forcefully removing the soldier from the front seat of the bus and subsequently striking him with a stick.

As of the time of this report, the underlying cause of this altercation remains undetermined.

It remains unclear whether this incident is connected to the previously mentioned clash involving soldiers and a LASTMA official.

Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Army, has offered a reaction to these developments.

He acknowledged that the Army is in the process of implementing educational measures to ensure that its personnel adhere to traffic regulations.

He said, “I must say it is disturbing that the soldiers/LASTMA conflict is now one too many.

The authorities of the Nigerian Army are genuinely concerned and are embarking on a vigorous sensitisation campaign to educate our personnel on the need to ensure compliance with traffic rules and promote synergy and interagency cooperation in Lagos State and around the country.

“To rein in our personnel, the military police have also been mandated to conduct Operation Checkmate by carrying out intermittent surveillance to identify and arrest personnel who violate traffic rules or are found engaging in any untoward activity.

The altercations point to the fact that there is a need to strengthen interagency cooperation amongst the security agencies in Lagos.

“Those enforcing the rules must equally be sensitised not to take laws into their hands by physically assaulting or battering offenders. This, more often than not, escalates the situation and results in a violent confrontation.

On his part, the spokesperson for the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Olabisi Ayeni, told PUNCH Metro in a WhatsApp chat that the Army was investigating Friday’s incident.

“I am aware that LASTMA personnel attacked a soldier in uniform on Friday. An investigation into the issue is ongoing,” Ayeni simply stated on Monday.

Speaking, the spokesperson for LASTMA, Taofeek Adebayo, who confirmed Monday’s video through a telephone interview with our correspondent, said LASTMA would respond in due time.

“Be patient with me; it is a sensitive matter. I have to get clearance,” Adebayo simply said on Monday. (PUNCH)