Suspected SARS officer ‘kills’ LASTMA official

A suspected officer of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has allegedly killed an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).

The incident occurred yesterday at Iyana-Ipaja roundabout around 6pm.

The LASTMA official, identified as Rotimi Adeyemo, was said to have flagged him down for traffic issue.

The officer, it was learnt, got down and warned the traffic official never to stop him again, saying he didn’t have a right to do so.

During an argument, the angry officer returned to his car, brought out a gun and shot the traffic official at close range.

People ran for safety after hearing the gunshot.

The officer, whose identity is yet to be ascertained, was said to have been arrested.

Eyewitnesses said the officer drove a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV).

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“The traffic official, Adeyemo, was controlling traffic at Iyana-Ipaja when he asked the SARS officer to stop so that motorists from Agege could start moving. The man refused to stop and he (Adeyemo) moved away so that he could pass motorists from Agege. The next thing was that the officer brought out his gun and shot him at close range,” a source said.

It was gathered that the suspected killer was first taken Moshalashi Police Station on Ipaja Road before being transferred to the State Command in Ikeja, GRA.

The traffic official was rushed to the General Hospital in Ifako-Ijaiye where he was confirmed dead.

His remains have been deposited in a mortuary in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

LASTMA spokesman Mahmud Hassan confirmed the incident.

He said investigation was on.