A Nigerian Hit and Run driver who rammed into and killed two officials of the state’s waste management agency in the commercial city of Lagos has turned himself to the police.
The Lagos State Waste Management Authority sweepers were working on the ever-busy Gbagada Expressway on Monday morning when the incident occurred.
The state Police spokesman, Superintendent of Police Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the latest development on Tuesday.
Hundeyin said the Hit and Run driver would be charged in court on Tuesday for manslaughter.
He said, “The owner of the Honda Saloon car turned himself in yesterday (Monday) night and he will be taken to court today for manslaughter.
“It was not murder, it was an accident and was not deliberate so he will be charged with manslaughter.”
The hit-and-run driver was reported to have hit the sweepers while allegedly trying to escape from officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA.
The situation led to a demonstration as passersby and motorists protested the killing of the street sweepers.
Security agents, including policemen, arrived at the scene to disperse the protesters and restore normalcy in the area.
But the Ministry of Transportation in a statement on Monday night denied the involvement of LASTMA officials in the accident. They stated that anyone found to be involved after the investigation would be dealt with according to the law.
The statement read, “Immediate investigation revealed that no LASTMA officer was involved in the unfortunate incident.
LASTMA cautioned motorists to be law-abiding while driving in the state.
“The Ministry of Transportation wants to assure members of the public that the outcome of the police investigation will be made public and anyone found culpable would be made to face the consequences of the law.”
Reports indicate that the driver after crushing the two LAWMA sweepers ran away leaving his car behind.
Sweeping the highways in a state with a sizeable number of reckless and undisciplined potential hit-and-run drivers can be quite hazardous.
The job of keeping Nigeria’s commercial, Lagos clean is a risky one. It is handled by the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and a few companies. But the people who sweep the city accuse their employers of shady practices and delays in salary payment.
The sweepers also complained of other problems, including lack of insurance cover, being overworked, having to replace stolen work tools from out of their own pockets, involuntary deductions from their meager salaries – even having to contribute to buying gifts for their bosses at Christmas.
