Operatives of the Lagos State Task Force, today arraigned thirteen workers of 7-UP Bottling Company, located in Oregun, for assaulting Officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority,LASTMA.

According to Chairman of the Task Force, the enforcement team of the Agency arrested the workers after they assaulted LASTMA Officers and injured three of them.

Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police said further that investigations revealed that the traffic officers were attacked while trying to tow a truck belonging to the company causing serious traffic gridlock.

He said it was an eye-sore seeing drivers of company’s trucks parking illegally on the road, thereby causing serious traffic obstructions to other motorists along toll gate area of the State.

According to him, the prosecution of the 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 ‘Executive Order’ on traffic offenders across the State.

According to one of the injured LASTMA Officers, Kazim Abayomi, who was transfered to LASUTH for treatment, most times drivers and workers of the company always engage them physically with different weapons while trying to enforce traffic laws.

Two other injured LASTMA workers (Towing truck operators) are Anozie Peter and Demeji Tonade.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Olajuwon Amos of the Lagos State Mobile Court who presided over the case adjourned the commencement of trial to August eight after they all pleaded ‘Not Guilty’.

They were all charged for ‘assault’ and ‘conduct likely to cause Breach of Peace’ under ‘Part III, Item 26’ of the Lagos State Traffic Sector Law.

Those charged to court include Musa Lawal, Sanni Abdullahi, Okechukwu Amaeze, Dayo Sanusi, James Water, Okunola Femi, Awotoye Afolarin, Ibrahim Umaru, Usbie Stephen, Kelvin Arueyingho, Emmanuel Uche, Salisu Haruna and Jimoh Darihutor.