- Jejeloye said none of the taskforce officials was posted out on Monday morning for any traffic enforcement.
- He disclosed that they were deployed to Ile-Zik, Dopemu, and Ikeja to maintain law and order during the NURTW protest.
The reports that the Agency was involved in the car chase that resulted in an accident and the unfortunate deaths of two LAWMA officials at the Gbagada axis on Monday morning have been refuted by the Lagos State Task Force.
Speaking about the sad event, the Agency’s Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, insisted that there is not a shred of truth in the report and that no member of the Lagos State Environmental Task Force was involved in the pursuit of a suspected traffic offender along the Gbagada axis, which led to the vehicle crash that claimed the lives of two LAWMA officers who were performing their duties by the side of the road.
“It is a very sad and unfortunate as well as an avoidable incident that led to the loss of lives. As an Agency, we have a very firm belief that a traffic offence is not a criminal offence, as such, a traffic offender may be left to escape from the scene of the offence rather than allow such an offender to create madness on the road, that could lead to loss of life”, he said.
Jejeloye disclosed that none of the Taskforce officials was posted out on Monday morning for any traffic enforcement, rather, they were deployed to Ile-Zik, Dopemu and Ikeja to maintain law and order during the NURTW protest. So there is no way they could have been involved as widely speculated. The vehicle and occupants involved in the chase were not in Task Force uniform.
He however said, “Investigation is ongoing to uncover those involved in this terrible incident. Anyone found culpable will be made to answer for his crime. The alleged motorist who evaded arrest and knocked down these two innocent workers will also be tried and prosecuted. In this era of social media, there is no hiding place for any criminal”.
Jejeloye admonished Lagosians to keep the peace and allow the law to take its full course, assuring that justice will be adequately served and no stone will be left unturned till all parties involved in the heinous crime are prosecuted.
“I strongly hope this will serve as a deterrent to any overzealous officer who sidelines the safety and security of Lagosians whom we have sworn to protect. Anyone caught jeopardising the safety and security of Lagosians all in the name of apprehending a traffic offender will be severely dealt with”, Jejeloye stressed.
The Chairman, therefore, urged all Lagosians to adhere to all traffic rules and regulations put in place by the State Government to help sustain sanity on the roads. Traffic rules have been put in place to ensure that we spend less time on our roads and to bring accidents down to the barest minimum.