Lagos State Task Force has arraigned 13 workers of 7Up Bottling Company for allegedly assaulting officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
Chairman of the Task Force, Olayinka Egbeyemi, said in a statement on Thursday that 13 workers of the bottling company were arrested after they assaulted LASTMA officers, injuring three.
Mr Egbeyemi said the officers were attacked while trying to tow a truck belonging to the company which was causing traffic gridlock.
“The prosecution of these 13 arrested workers became imperative to serve as deterrent to others who might want to attack law enforcement officers in the course of enforcement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on traffic offenders across the State.
“It was disheartening that officers employed to safeguard members of the public were always being attacked by same people whose interest were being protected,” he said.
One of the injured LASTMA officers, who was transferred to LASUTH for treatment, Kazim Abayomi, said drivers and workers of 7Up company always engaged them physically with different weapons while trying to enforce traffic laws on their illegally parked trucks on the road side.
The two other injured officers are Peter Anozie and Demeji Tonade.
All 13 suspects have pleaded not guilty to the charges of assault and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
Magistrate Olajuwon Amos of Lagos State Mobile Court adjourned the case to August 8 for the commencement of trial.
