A tricyclist in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State has taken his own life following unsuccessful attempts to recover his seized tricycle from government agents.
the unidentified man was intercepted by officials who seized his tricycle and transported it to their office near Jubilee Estate along the Ikorodu-Sagamu Expressway.
Despite persistent efforts by the tricyclist to retrieve his vehicle, it proved abortive. Frustrated by the situation, the man sought to protest the seizure.
Eyewitnesses told Punch that he hanged himself from a tree in front of the compound housing the offices of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO).
An eyewitness, Prince Excel of Aiyekooto Reporters, who captured the incident on video, described it as unfortunate, noting that the suicide occurred early Thursday morning.
A note accompanying Excel’s video indicated that the tricyclist took his life due to the authorities’ refusal to return his seized tricycle, despite his pleas.
The spokesperson for LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, however, denied any involvement of their officers in the seizure, stating that no tricycle was impounded within their premises in the area.
“We don’t know anything about the incident. LASTMA is not involved in anything of such, and we don’t know anything about the hanging of the dead body,” he said..
Watch the video below:
GRAPHICS 🔞: Keke Rider Comm!ts Su!c!de By Hang!ng At LASTMA Office Because His Keke (Tricycle) Was Impo*unded And Taken Away From Him By LASTMA Officers.
It Was Reported That He Begged Several Times In Order To Regain His Tricycle Before Han*ging Himself, This Happened… pic.twitter.com/MZUxjgBXr3
— Chude Nnamdi (@chude__) July 12, 2024