The Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) has issued a stern condemnation following a violent assault on one of its monitoring officers by commuters attempting to evade full fare payment on a bus route.
The incident, which occurred today, has prompted the agency to demand an immediate end to attacks on its staff, warning that perpetrators will face severe legal consequences.
According to LAMATA, the altercation took place when a group of commuters, who boarded a bus from Abule Egba with the intention of alighting at the National Bus Stop, tried to cheat the system.
Instead of disembarking at their designated stop, the commuters tapped out at Ikeja Along, a cheaper fare point, and then retook their seats to continue their journey. When a LAMATA monitoring officer intervened to enforce the fare policy, the situation escalated.
“The commuters resisted the officer’s instructions and proceeded to handle him roughly,” a LAMATA spokesperson said in a statement. The officer sustained injuries during the assault, including a swollen eye, torn clothes, and damage to his phone and bag. Witnesses reported that the commuters physically overpowered the staff member before fleeing the scene.
LAMATA expressed outrage over the incident, noting a troubling rise in attacks on its personnel.
“The attack on our ground staff from doing their job is becoming incessant,” the agency stated. “We will not tolerate any attack on our staff, those caught will face the full weight of the law.” The authority emphasized its commitment to ensuring a safe working environment, adding, “Our staff have the right to work in an abuse-free environment.”
The agency has not released the identity of the injured officer or provided specific details about the assailants, but it confirmed that an investigation is underway. LAMATA is working with law enforcement to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, urging commuters to respect fare policies and staff authority to prevent such incidents.
