LASTMA Apprehends ‘One-Chance’ Driver in Lagos, Recovers Stolen Phones
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has apprehended a ‘one-chance’ driver operating a commercial bus along Funsho Williams Avenue in Surulere, Lagos. The term ‘one-chance’ refers to a form of fraud or robbery in Nigeria where unsuspecting passengers are picked up by criminals posing as legitimate drivers.
Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, confirmed the incident, which occurred near a Conoil filling station. The arrest followed an attack on Miss Bibian Emelifonwu, a female passenger who fell victim to the criminals.
Miss Emelifonwu recounted how she boarded the commercial bus only to have her phone stolen by a male passenger sitting beside her. The man pretended to open the front door of the bus while discreetly taking her phone from her bag. Shortly after, the criminals ejected her from the moving vehicle onto the highway.
Fortunately, LASTMA officers in the vicinity witnessed the incident and quickly pursued the bus.
The driver, identified as Mr. Toyib Ogunjobi, was apprehended after a chase, while his accomplices managed to escape. Upon interrogation, Ogunjobi admitted to leading the criminal syndicate, detailing their strategy of offering low fares to lure passengers on the Costain-Ojota route before robbing them and ejecting them from the bus.
The syndicate reportedly generated daily profits of N250,000 to N
300,000 by selling stolen phones and other valuables.
LASTMA officers recovered seven stolen phones from Ogunjobi, including models such as Techno Pop, Samsung AZZ, and Intel A623. Ogunjobi further disclosed that the bus owner was also complicit in the criminal activities.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commended the officers for their swift and decisive action. He urged Lagos residents to exercise caution when boarding both commercial and private vehicles to avoid falling victim to such crimes.
The arrested driver has been handed over to law enforcement agencies for further investigation and prosecution. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to track and apprehend the fleeing accomplices.
This incident underscores the continued vigilance of LASTMA in maintaining security on Lagos roads and protecting residents from criminal activities.
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