Customs Officials Attack LASTMA Office, Vandalise Property

Some officials of the Nigeria Customs Service have reportedly
unleashed havoc on the Mile 2 office of the Lagos State Traffic
Management Authority, vandalising four vehicles among other valuables,
in a bid to release an impounded vehicle.

The PUNCH reported that a LASTMA official, Musiliu Edu, and a police
corporal, Saliu Isiaka, were beaten for recording the incident with
their mobile phones.

Another official, Wensu Idowu, was reportedly hospitalised, after he
was hit with the butt of a gun in the mouth, while the crisis raged.

PUNCH correspondent learnt that a Honda Pilot, marked, EKY 521 CZ, and
belonging to a senior customs official, had been impounded by LASTMA
operatives on Tuesday morning.

The driver of the vehicle was said to be driving against traffic at
the Coconut area of Mile 2.

An hour after the arrest, the customs officials in a convoy of three
patrol vehicles, reportedly stormed the Mile 2 office and started
inflicting injuries on LASTMA officials.

In a statement on Sunday, the zonal head, LASTMA, Mr. Victor Adeyanju,
said his men were attacked after the customs officials' demand for the
unconditional release of the vehicle was turned down.

He said, "When they came, they were told there was a standard
procedure for the release of vehicles.

"This, however, made them angry and they started beating our men,
including dragging some of them on the floor. They threatened not to
leave the premises without the impounded vehicle."

It was learnt that it took the intervention of policemen from the
FESTAC Police Station to restore normalcy in the area.

While some of the officials reportedly fled the scene, one of the
patrol vehicles they brought was said to have been taken to the
station.

The impounded jeep was also said to have been deposited at the LASTMA
Headquarters in Oshodi.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, while confirming the
incident, said, "Military and paramilitary agents must see LASTMA
officials as partners who are out to ensure sanity on the road."

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal
Operation Unit, Ikeja, Lagos, Uche Ejesieme, said, " I have contacted
all our patrol teams and its likely that none of them is involved as
alleged.

"However, we shall investigate and if actually any of our officers is
indicted, the controller will take appropriate steps to sanction such
officer. "Like I said earlier, such acts cannot come from FOU A
operatives.

PUNCH.