How Task force policemen beat up VIS official

VIO officials on duty

There was commotion on Wednesday at the Chinese Town, Oworonsoki Expressway, Lagos State, after officials of the Vehicle Inspection Service and officials of the Lagos State Task Force on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit, clashed.

PUNCH Metro learnt that during the scuffle, a VIS official, identified as Rasheed, was beaten to a coma and had been admitted at a hospital in Alausa, Ikeja.

Our correspondent learnt that Rasheed was in a commercial bus when he sighted the official vehicle of the VIS on the road.

He was said to have flagged down the driver, who did not see him, before calling his colleagues in the vehicle on the phone.

The driver of the bus was reported to have parked around the Chinese Town to wait for him.

Rasheed was said to have alighted from the commercial vehicle he boarded and was about joining the VIS bus, when the task force officials challenged the commercial driver for stopping illegally on the road.

The victim allegedly intervened and explained that he was joining his official bus and had begged the driver to pull over for him.

A witness, Rotimi Fadeyemi, said the task force officers beat up the driver of the commercial bus and the VIS official.

He reportedly collapsed and was rescued by his colleagues, who rushed him to a hospital.

Fadeyemi said, “The incident happened around 8am around Chinese Town. The VIO officer had asked the bus driver to stop for him so he could join his colleagues. But the task force officers queried the driver and when he (VIO officer) intervened, one of them slapped him.

“They beat up the driver and he almost lost his sight. The VIS officer was beaten to a coma and he has been rushed to a hospital where he is receiving treatment.”

An official of the VIS, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that the task force officers did not comport themselves.

He said, “The task force officers beat up Rasheed till he collapsed. They also descended heavily on the driver of the commercial bus until his sight was affected. They really created a scene around the area and caused untold hardship for motorists.”

When contacted the VIS Director, Abdulazeez Toriola, could not be reached as his line rang out.

The Task Force Public Relations Officer, Taofeek Adebayo, who confirmed the incident, said it had been resolved by the parties, saying it was a minor disagreement.

He said, “We have resolved the issues and even the bus that was earlier confiscated has been released to its owner. It was not something serious.”