LASTMA Officer Ablaze: Viral Lagos Video Is From 2024
A video showing a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer engulfed in flames has resurfaced online, triggering renewed reactions over a violent confrontation involving a commercial bus driver. https://www.thecable.ng/commercial-driver-resisting-arrest-sets-lastma-official-ablaze-in-lagos/
However, reports indicate that the footage is from an incident that occurred in November 2024, rather than a newly confirmed clash in 2026.
The video has been circulated with varying descriptions, making it important to establish the original circumstances surrounding the incident.
What Happened During the 2024 LASTMA Clash?
According to reports published by TheCable and PUNCH, the incident occurred on November 5, 2024, in the Cele inward Mile 2 area of Lagos.
LASTMA said its officers had intercepted a Volkswagen T4 commercial bus, with registration number LSD 355 CK, over a traffic violation.
The agency’s then-Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, said the driver and his conductor allegedly resisted arrest and attacked personnel.
According to LASTMA’s account, the driver poured petrol on the officers and the vehicle before setting them ablaze while attempting to evade arrest.
The incident was captured in a video that showed a fire erupting around the bus and a man running while engulfed in flames.
The footage subsequently circulated across social media platforms.
LASTMA Officer Sustained Severe Burns
LASTMA confirmed that one of its officers sustained severe burns during the confrontation and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
PUNCH reported that the Lagos State Government launched efforts to apprehend the driver and his conductor following the incident.
The agency condemned the attack and urged commercial and private motorists to comply with traffic regulations and respect traffic enforcement personnel.
LASTMA also warned that violence against its officers would not be tolerated.
The agency’s account was reported by several Nigerian media organisations, including TheCable, PUNCH and The Guardian.
Viral Video Circulates With New Claims
The footage resurfaced on social media in November 2026, with some posts presenting it as a recent confrontation involving LASTMA officers and passengers.
A report by This Dawn noted similarities between the circulating footage and the previously documented Mile 2 incident.
The report cautioned that the video appeared to be old footage being shared with a different description.
The new claims about the circumstances leading to the confrontation have not been independently established.
The earlier LASTMA statement attributed the fire to the driver and conductor during an arrest attempt.
There is no verified evidence in the sources reviewed that the footage depicts a separate incident in 2026.
Importance of Verifying Viral Videos
The resurfacing of the footage highlights how old videos can reappear online with misleading captions or altered context.
Such posts can confuse audiences, distort the circumstances of an incident and wrongly assign responsibility.
While the 2024 confrontation was documented by multiple news organisations, claims about a new incident should be supported by fresh evidence from authorities or credible eyewitness accounts.
The original video’s date and location should also be verified before it is described as breaking news.
As of the reports reviewed, the footage corresponds to the November 2024 incident in Mile 2, Lagos.
The claim that it shows a newly occurring clash in 2026 remains unverified.
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