THERE was pandemonium Monday morning in Lagos State after a hit-and-run commercial bus hit two street cleaners while attempting to escape arrest by the state traffic management agency (LASTMA).

The two cleaners’ lifeless bodies were laid inside the gutter at the Charley Boy Bus Stop via Oshodi- Gbagada expressway, inward Iyana-Oworo.

Eyewitnesses’ accounts blamed LASTMA officers for the tragedy.

The officers fled as the driver vanished with his bus after the incident to escape a possible mob action.

One of the witnesses, who identified himself as Friday, said the officers were unprofessional in their bid to apprehend the bus driver.

“Every morning, the LASTMA task force and some men from the Gbagada Police unit come here to raid. They come here to collect N10,000-50,000 from people they arrest.

“Look at what happened: two family members died because a LASTMA official was chasing a bus. This has been happening for a very long time,” he said.

Other street cleaners were seen mourning the death of their colleagues as vehicular movement stalled, leaving commuters stranded.

Many commuters trekked to the nearest bus stop to continue their journey.

The ICIR contacted the LASTMA spokesperson, Taofiq Adebayo, on Monday morning to get his reaction to the allegation against the agency’s officers.

He said, “We are trying to put a press statement. You will get it very soon.”