18 errant drivers to undergo psychiatric tests in Lagos

Gunmen kidnap 6 law school students in Benue

In a strategic effort to curb traffic violations, the Lagos State Government has directed the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to ensure that 18 motorists apprehended for driving against traffic flow (One-way) undergo mandatory psychiatric evaluation.

Adebayo Taofiq, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, disclosed this in a release made available to newsmen on Sunday.

The directive, according to him, is part of a multi-faceted approach to restore road discipline, ensure public safety, and maintain order on Lagos roads.

He added that the Lagos State Government views this measure as a preventive and restorative step, rather than a punitive one, aimed at rehabilitating errant drivers and deterring potential violators.

“LASTMA has finalized prosecutorial frameworks for the immediate arraignment of 18 vehicle owners recently apprehended for willfully driving against traffic flow. As part of their prosecution, each offender will be required to undergo a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to assess their cognitive fitness and behavioral disposition.”

According to the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, this initiative reflects global best practices in advanced traffic psychology and behavioral enforcement.

“The enforcement of psychiatric assessments is not intended to stigmatize or punish,” Mr. Bakare-Oki emphasized. “Rather, it is a necessary intervention designed to protect the general motoring public from individuals who exhibit reckless disregard for human life and lawful order.”

Despite ongoing public enlightenment campaigns and education efforts, a significant number of road users continue to disregard traffic laws, contributing to fatal collisions, congestion, and infrastructural degradation. The Lagos State Government is resolute in its commitment to ending this menace and ensuring that traffic laws are respected.

The deployment of psychiatric testing serves as both a corrective instrument and a deterrent to those who may be tempted to emulate such hazardous behavior. “This measure is more than just a traffic enforcement initiative,” stated Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki. “It is a moral and civic imperative, reflecting the Lagos State Government’s vision to promote responsible motoring, safeguard human life, and maintain order on our roads.”

LASTMA reaffirms its dedication to the rule of law, public enlightenment, and sustained infrastructural harmony.

All residents and road users are strongly advised to comply with traffic directives, embrace lawful conduct, and contribute to the creation of a safe, efficient, and sane Lagos.

For immediate response to traffic-related issues, call LASTMA’s toll-free hotline: 080000527862.

Gunmen kidnap 6 law school students in Benue

Six students of the Nigerian Law School have reportedly been abducted by gunmen suspected to be bandits in Benue State while travelling to resume academic activities at the institution’s Yola Campus in Adamawa State.

The abduction, according NewsPointNigeria, occurred in the evening of Saturday, July 26, along the volatile Wukari-Benue border axis, a highway notorious for kidnappings, armed robbery, and sporadic attacks by criminal groups.

The students were said to be travelling from Onitsha, Anambra State, following the completion of their mandatory court externship programme.

The Yola Law School Campus is scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 28.

Confirming the incident, a fellow student, Damilare Adenola, expressed deep concern about the safety of his colleagues.

“Six students of the Nigerian Law School have been reportedly kidnapped by suspected armed bandits while travelling to resume school after their court externship break,” he said.

The abducted students were identified as: Rev. Ernest Okafor, Ogbuka Fabian, Nwamma Philip, Okechukwu Obadiegwu, Obalem Emmanuel and Obiorah David.

A student union leader at the Yola campus, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed that the abduction had been reported to the authorities.

“We are all in shock here in Yola. We’ve been in contact with the Adamawa State Police Command, but we’ve also been told that the incident happened outside their jurisdiction. We are waiting and praying for more concrete updates,” the student leader said.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, SP Yahaya Suleiman, acknowledged reports of the incident but clarified that it occurred outside the state’s territory.

“The abduction did not happen within Adamawa borders. We’ve traced the location to an area near Benue,” Suleiman said.

He added that efforts were ongoing across state lines to secure the safe return of the students.

“We are in constant communication with the Benue State Police Command and other relevant security outfits. The safety of those travelling into or out of Adamawa is a top priority,” he stressed.

However, attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Benue State Police Command, SP Anene Catherine, were unsuccessful as of the time of filing the report.

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