By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Swift intervention by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Monday averted what could have been a successful hit-and-run after a Togolese driver knocked down a pedestrian on Lagos Island.
The incident happened at the Adeniji Adele intersection, inward Ilubirin, in the early hours of the day. Witnesses said the driver, who was speeding recklessly, lost control of his Mazda car with registration number EPE 749 GS and rammed into a pedestrian attempting to cross the road.
The impact left the victim severely injured and sprawling in a pool of blood. Shocked bystanders raised an alarm as the foreign driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene.
LASTMA officials, who arrived promptly, intercepted the vehicle and apprehended the suspect before handing him over to security operatives from the Adeniji Adele Police Division.
Confirming the development, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the swift response of his officers ensured the suspect did not escape. “Preliminary findings revealed the motorist was driving recklessly and at uncontrollable speed before the accident occurred,” he stated.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) also moved in quickly and conveyed the injured victim to the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island, where he is currently receiving life-saving treatment.
Bakare-Oki condemned the reckless conduct of the driver, stressing that Lagos roads require caution, especially at busy intersections where pedestrians are most vulnerable.
The suspect, who is of Togolese origin, remains in police custody for interrogation and is expected to face prosecution.
The incident has once again raised concerns over reckless driving in Lagos and the growing need for stricter enforcement of traffic laws to safeguard lives.