By Evelyn Usman

IndicationS emerged yesterday that an official of Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, LASTMA, is among four policemen arrested over the alleged killing of a 36-year-old bus conductor, Monday, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway.

At press time, the suspects were said to have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, for further investigation.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Aderanti, assured that no stone would be left unturned in ensuring that the killers of the father of four were brought to book.

Speaking during a visit to Vanguard’s corporate headquarters, Apapa, yesterday, the commissioner said the arrested policemen were not sent by police authorities to carry out such dastardly act.

Commissioner’s assurance

He said: “I am aware of the unfortunate incident. So far, five persons, including four policemen and a LASTMA official, have been arrested and they are currently at the SCID.

Traffic gridlock on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway as hoodlums took over the road in the wake of Mr. Ikeckukwu Abasirim’s death. INSET: Late Mr. Abasirim. PHOTO: Biodun Ogunleye.

“Nobody sent them to do that. The interesting thing about it is that they did not run away. I can assure you that justice will be done.”

However, the bereaved parents, yesterday, said since the incident, no official of LASTMA or Police had paid them a visit.

Describing the action as insensitive on the part of both agencies, they expressed fear that the matter might be swept under the carpet, owning to the trading of blames, particularly by LASTMA.

“Are they treating us this way because they feel we cannot do anything to them?” asked the devastated father of the deceased, Mr. Abasirim.

Maintaining that his son was killed by officials of LASTMA, 74-year-old Abasirim, narrated what he described as the true position of what happened that fateful day.

Father’s story

He said: “My son and his driver were not the ones chased by LASTMA officials. What happened was that he was at Second Rainbow Bus Stop, calling passengers, when some LASTMA officials, accompanied by armed policemen in two commercials buses, were chasing a commercial bus.

“When the commandeered bus reached where my son stood, one of them hit him and he hit his head on the ground. As if that was not enough, the second bus driven by the LASTMA officials ran over him.

“I was at home when I received a call that my first son and heir apparent was involved in an accident at Second Rainbow Bus Stop. His remains were taken to Cele Bus Stop, where he was popularly known.

“I saw him last on Saturday, October 25, two days before the ugly incident that shattered my family. Who will look after his four children and widow? How do I , a common retiree at 74, fend for them?”

His wife was sitting beside him, crying and muttering “why should they kill my son? Am I the one that ought to bury him?

“I am yet to believe that IK is gone. I look out every day since the incident happened, expecting him to knock and say, ‘here I am, I am not dead’.”

The devastated mother explained that she returned from Ketu Market that fateful day to display her wares(fruits) at Cele Bus Stop, only to notice people staring at her.

She said no one could tell her what exactly was wrong until she got home.