A ‘MOTOR BOY’ who was assisting a truck driver has been crushed to death at Total Bridge along the Apapa ports access road.
The Administration Secretary, Association of Maritime Truck Owners of Nigeria (AMATO), Mohammed Sani who confirmed the incident to said the incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, March 29, following an attempt by the operatives of Lagos Police and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to collect N500 from a truck driver.
Recall that an earlier investigation by exposed how indiscriminate extortion and touting by hoodlums and corrupt security security agents has resulted to deaths of innocent citizens, while also threatening business operations at Lagos ports.
“They were trying to collect money from the driver and the driver did not have money. Instead of them to allow them to go, they started beating the motor boy and the driver. The motor boy while trying to run away ran to the trailer and eventually died,” Bala said.
“We have applied for the release of the corpse for burial. Once they release the corpse now, we will go and bury. The Police officer that’s responsible for the death is in detention right now while the investigation is ongoing.”
He bemoaned incessant indiscriminate extortion by security agencies stationed at the ports corridor to manage traffic congestion.
“We don’t have security and traffic control men along the ports corridors. What we have are just bunch of extortion bandits hiding under the guise of providing security and traffic control,” he said.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos state Police command, Benjamin Hundeyin said the Police has commenced investigation into the incident and alleged involvement of Police officer.
“That’s an allegation that we are investigating. If it turns out to be true, we will update the public accordingly,” he said.
The gathered that earlier on Wednesday, angry truck drivers trooped out to protest the indiscriminate extortion along the Apapa ports corridor but normalcy returned to the area after a visit by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to the area.
Reacting to the development via his Twitter account, the Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed that the Commissioner of Police has ordered full investigation into the incident.
ONGOING: @LagosPoliceNG CP Idowu Owohunwa carrying out on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Apapa where a ‘motorboy’ was accidentally crushed to death last night. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/5nmKR9v6d9
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) March 29, 2023
