Lagos – Mrs Martha Kpemeka, a 62-year-old employee of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), was killed on Tuesday morning at Ojota Bus Stop, Lagos, while sweeping the road.

Eye witnesses told the News Agency of the Nigeria (NAN) that the woman was knocked down by a truck when some officials of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) attempted to stop the driver.

“We saw the LASTMA officials dragging the steering with the driver who refused to stop. In the attempt, the truck with Reg. XR 505 BDG ran over the woman.

“She died on the spot and the LASTMA officials ran away, leaving their patrol van with Reg. RT 255 LA behind. The timely intervention of the police prevented the patrol van from being burnt,” they said.

At about 9.40 a.m., when NAN Correspondent visited the scene, the broom and the blood stain were still at the spot of the incident, while her corpse and vehicles had been taken to Alausa Police Station.

The woman’s corpse was still at the back of the police patrol vehicle, with Reg. EE 716 APP, when NAN visited the Alausa Police Station at 10.30 a.m. just as the LASTMA patrol vehicle and the truck were parked there.

A LAWMA ambulance with Reg. LA 91 F 31 later took the corpse to the mortuary at about 11.20 a.m.

Mr Matthew Ibuje, who claimed to be the first son of the deceased, told NAN that his mother retired in April 2010 but often complained of boredom.

He said that their late mother lived with her last chaild at Mile 12 and that she took up the street sweeping job without their knowledge.

“We are seven children. She was staying with our last born at Mile 12 before her painful death,” Ibuje said.

The spokesman, Lagos State Police Command, Mr Samuel Jinadu, confirmed the incident but said he was waiting for a detailed report from the DPO, Alausa Police Station.

The Chief Executive Officer of LASTMA, Mr Young Arebameh confirmed the incident but denied that his officials were dragging the steering with the driver of the truck.

He claimed that the driver was stopped by LASTMA officials and told his offence; but he drove off through the road verge and ran over the woman who was sweeping.