Personnel of the Anambra State Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) allegedly manhandled a bus driver with tear gas and beat him into a coma on Tuesday at Aroma, Awka, the Anambra State capital.
According to eyewitness Nkechi Okoli, the traffic officers stopped the driver, leading to an altercation.
The officers beat the driver and sprayed tear gas, unaware that he was asthmatic.
The witness claimed that the ARTMA personnel sprayed tear gas four times into the man’s face, causing him to slump.
The victim was dragged out of the vehicle and left on the main road for over two hours without attention.
“The ARTMA personnel returned to the scene, saw the man lying helplessly, but did not rush him to the hospital. Instead, they took his vehicle to their office.
“A good Samaritan, a woman who called a tricycle operator, eventually conveyed the man to Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital for treatment,” said an eyewitness.
Another eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, condemned the brutality of ARTMA officers in enforcing traffic laws.
“These ARTMA officers are terrorizing motorists in the name of enforcing traffic laws. This man they manhandled today could have been arrested and taken to their office instead of being beaten and sprayed with tear gas into unconsciousness.”
The eyewitness urged the government to call the officers to order before they start killing people in the name of traffic enforcement.
About Author
