Lagos blows hot as mob attacks VIS with spanners, iron rod, cutlasses
The Lagos State Government has condemned the recent attack on the Vehicle Inspection Services Officials by a notorious gang along Airport road in Oshodi.
The government warned that decisive actions would be taken against perpetrators of such heinous acts.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde, while disclosing this in a statement on Wednesday stated that the VIS Officials had embarked on their lawful duties along Airport road in Oshodi and that while trying to apprehend a truck driver who violated the traffic law of the state, a mob suddenly appeared and attacked them at around 10:30am on Tuesday, 10th May, 2022.
He explained that several dangerous weapons were used on the personnel including; iron rods, wheel spanners and cutlasses that could have resulted in the loss of lives if not for the timely intervention of the good people of the State and the men of the Lagos State Taskforce.
Speaking further, the Transport Commissioner revealed that while two of the VIS personnel who sustained various forms of injuries were receiving treatment, the apprehended truck driver and a member of the mob would be prosecuted according to the Law, while others who are still at large would be brought to book.
Oladeinde decried the frequent attacks on the enforcement teams of the state government by the citizens they are serving warning that those caught in the act will continue to face the full wrath of the Law.
In a comment on the development, the Director, Lagos State Vehicle Inspection Services, Engr. Akin-George Fashola, urged members of the public to always channel any grievance against government officials to the appropriate authorities for appropriate action instead of taking laws into their hands through attacks.
“As we say in the Transport Sector, safety implementation without enforcement is mere entertainment. The role of the VIS is to ensure sanity on our roads for safety of lives and property and if in the cause of this onerous assignment, you feel hard done by our Officials, the last thing you want to do is to resort to self help which is against the law, Endeavour to channel your grievances through the appropriate channel”, Fashola advised.