An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adeyemo Rotimi (46), was late Wednesday, shot dead at Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos, by a police inspector attached to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

The incident is said to have occurred at about 6pm on Wednesday around the Iyana-Ipaja round about when the LASTMA official popularly known as ‘Baba Ibeji’ challenged the police inspector who drove a cream coloured Highlander jeep with registration number plate LSR 277 BJ against traffic.

The ensuing development was exchange of words between both men, and the angry policeman who felt insulted by Adeyemo’s warning, returned to his car and allegedly pulled a pistol with which he shot him in the eye, leaving many to scamper for safety on hearing the sound of the gun.

Sources say the policeman attempted to flee the scene but was stopped by an angry crowd who also damaged his vehicle, before he was rescued by some policemen in the area who took him to Moshalashi Police Station along Ipaja Road before being transfered to State Command in Ikeja GRA.

The traffic official who was rushed to Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, was afterwards confirmed dead and his remains have been deposited in a mortuary in Yaba, Lagos Mainland.

LASTMA Public Relations Officer, Mahmud Hassan confirmed the incidence.

“I have just confirmed the sad news that a motorist killed our official while on duty at Iyana-Ipaja. The driver of the vehicle has been arrested. We have commenced investigation into the incident,” Hassan added.

Spokesman for the Lagos Police Command, CSP Chike Oti, contacted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) did not also deny the incident, as he said he was writing a release on the incident.