Addressing the issue, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Ola lean Bakare-Oki, in a statement on Friday dismissed reports linking the agency to the incident.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has firmly refuted any involvement in the discovery of the body of a deceased man hanging near an estate gate along Lagos - Shagamu Expressway in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Addressing the issue, LASTMA General Manager, Mr. Ola lean Bakare-Oki, in a statement on Friday dismissed reports linking the agency to the incident.
"I want to unequivocally state that LASTMA operatives are not responsible for the tragic discovery of the deceased," Mr. Bakare-Oki said.
Bakare-Oki also debunked reports that the deceased's vehicle was impounded by officers of the agency.
Mr. Bakare-Oki, however, confirmed that the body was discovered early Thursday morning by passersby and was immediately reported to the police at Shagamu Road.
A statement signed by the LASTMA Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, reads, “Several speculations were made by sympathisers present at the scene.
“Some said he was dressed like a motorcyclist (Okada rider), while some speculated he was a tricyclist (Marwa rider). Some even believed he was brought to the scene by his killers during the wee hours of midnight, and stage-managed it to give it the semblance of suicide because the victim's leg was touching ground.
“For brevity, no one could really identify him as either an Okada or Marwa rider from amongst several operators of Okada and Marwa who visited the scene.”
"It is unfortunate that the incident occurred by an Estate gate along Lagos - Shagamu Expressway,” Mr. Bakare Oki was quoted as saying.
While expressing sympathy to the deceased's family, the General Manager warned those spreading unfounded reports to verify information before disseminating it.
He urged the public, especially motorists, to seek clarification on any traffic information through the agency's newly commissioned toll-free call center (080000527862)
Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been taken to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), Yaba, Lagos.