30th July, 2010
The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress has condemned in strong terms, the reported consistent brutalization of the men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) by armed members of the Nigerian armed forces on private duties.
The party describes these series of attacks as not only unlawful but a clear case of perpetrating illegality against innocent citizens that are doing their duties for the state. In a release in Lagos, signed by the Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the AC, Joe Igbokwe, Lagos AC said that members of the Nigerian armed forces must be made to adhere to the tenets of democracy if we are not to degenerate into a lawless state.
It therefore calls for a full investigation into the alleged brutalization of LASTMA officials by soldiers and that all those found culpable must be punished to serve as a deterrent to others who might be planning to carry out similar infractions against members of LASTMA.
“In the first instance, we believe it is illegal for members of the Nigerian armed forces to be engaged as private escorts to sundry interests for the purpose of escaping security checks. We see it as a gross act of indiscipline and illegality for soldiers to obstruct LASTMA officials from doing their legal duties on Lagos roads. We believe that Nigeria should not be turned into a lawless country where armed security men are allowed to not only perpetrate illegalities but take the laws into their own hands.
“Members of the Nigerian armed forces must be made to adhere to the ethos and tenets of a democratic society and the best way to make them do so is to strictly confine them to their duties and punish excesses from members of the armed forces and all other security personnel.
The attacks on LASTMA men, if proved to be true, is one of such excesses that must be investigated and culprits must be punished severely to serve as a deterrent to others.