LASTMA denies involvement in man’s death by suicide

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has distanced itself from the discovery of a man’s body hanging from a tree not far from its offices on the Lagos-Sagamu Expressway.

In a statement issued on Friday, LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Taofiq Adebayo, addressed rumors circulating online suggesting the agency was involved in the man’s death.

“Several speculations were made by sympathisers present at the scene,” Adebayo said. “Some said he was dressed like a motorcyclist (okada rider), while some speculated he was a tricyclist (Marwa rider).

He also debunked the rumours circulating on social media, insinuating that the deceased’s vehicle was impounded by officers of the agency.

The statement further clarified that the body was discovered early Thursday morning by passersby who immediately reported it to the Shagamu Road Police Station.

READ ALSO:Bus driver jailed 12 years for killing LASTMA officer

LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, emphasized, “Our operatives are not responsible for the dead body found hanging by the gate of the estate.

“Some even believed he was brought to the scene by his killers during the wee hours of midnight, and stage managed it, to give it the semblance of suicide because the victim’s leg was touching ground.

“For brevity, no one could really identify him as either an okada or Marwa rider from amongst several operators of okada and Marwa who visited the scene.”

The cause of death and the man’s identity remain under investigation by the police.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now