Man attempts to steal car by impersonating LASTMA

The police have arrested a man identified simply as Adejumo, allegedly impersonating an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, then attempted to steal a vehicle in the state.

From what was gathered from a video which was circulating on social media the suspect had driven a van with a LASTMA sticker on it and allegedly towed a car in the early hours of Monday in the Somolu area of Lagos.

In the video, a yet-to-be-identified woman, likely to be the owner of the towed black Acura MDX vehicle, was heard lamenting that her vehicle was stolen using a LASTMA van.

According to the woman, the vehicle being towed was obstructed by a pole and the driver of the van ran away after suspicious residents raised the alarm.

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“I’ve never heard it before that a towing van would be used to steal a car. Thank God my people woke up and started shouting. See the pole, it is a pillar of God. See as God loves me. A towing car, government towing car – LASTMA people. A towing van for that matter. As people shouted and shouted, they ran. See their key, they ran and abandoned it,” the woman said.

The towed vehicle was seen stuck behind the pole while the towing van was ahead of it.

Reacting in a statement Monday night, LASTMA’s Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, said the driver of the van had been arrested.

Adebayo said, “The driver of the towing vehicle was not an official of LASTMA. It is important to inform the general public, particularly the motoring public that the driver, Adejumo, has been apprehended and is currently at Pedro Police Station for further investigation.”

He noted that investigations revealed that “the arrested towing van driver impersonated one of the LASTMA towing van operators with a fake identity card and fake LASTMA tow franchisee’s sticker.”

He added that the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bolaji Oreagba, however, implored members of the public to be wary of unscrupulous elements trying to dent the image of the agency.