Traffic Official’s Ear Chopped Off

The Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) on Friday said the left ear of its staff, Mr Ibrahim Etti, was chopped off by a member of the NURTW at Oshodi, Lagos.

A statement by LASTMA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Young Arebamen, said Etti, Zonal Head of Mushin Zone 21, was attacked while performing his official duty.

It said the official and others were towing vehicles that had obstructed free-flow of traffic at Oshodi when they were attacked.

The statement said LASTMA officials had succeeded in towing all the vehicles except two that were parked at the LAGBUS Park.

It alleged that one Francis Sunday, however, prevented the towing vehicles from removing the remaining two.

LASTMA officials, it said, sought the intervention of Etti to forestall fracas between them and the NURTW members operating at the park.

The statement said while Etti was busy discussing with his staff on how to resolve the issue amicably, Sunday allegedly appeared from the rear and held on to Etti’s head.

It further alleged that Sunday gave Etti a deep bite on his left ear and chopped-off a part of it, leaving him bleeding and unconscious.

Etti, the statement said, was rushed to the Gbagada General Hospital for medical treatment while Sunday was later arrested by officials of the State Environmental Task Force.

The statement quoted Arebamen as appealing to the public to desist from attacking traffic officials or taking the laws into their hands.

He called on aggrieved persons not to hesitate to lodge their complaints at LASTMA’s headquarters or the Ministry of Transportation.

Arebamen assured residents of justice and fairness in the treatment of their complaints.