63-year-old driver lose consciousness after police officer hits him with a stun gun

A 63-year-old commercial bus driver reportedly lost consciousness on Tuesday, after policemen attached to Lagos State Police Task Force used a stun gun on him. According to New Telegraph, the old man, Isiaka Ishola, rammed his bus loaded with passengers into a gutter and lost consciousness after the Police Task Force, on Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences, used their stun gun on him while attempting to arrest him.

An eyewitness told New Telegraph, the incident occurred around 10:20am, while the Task Force officials were raiding bus drivers, allegedly causing obstruction along the Ojodu Berger Road. Ishola was driving out of the motor park, when the Task Force Officials, accused him of causing traffic jam. In an attempt to compel him to stop and get out of the vehicle, one of the policemen pursued and used the stun gun on him. Ishola was alleged to have fainted on the wheel, lost control of his bus and rammed into a nearby gutter.

"The policemen dragged his unconscious body out of the bus seat and put him inside their Black Maria. A senior policeman, however, came to the scene and ordered the policemen to immediately release the bus driver.

"The policemen placed Ishola by the roadside. Other bus drivers ran to buy satchets of pure water and milk. Water was poured on him and the milk was forced into his mouth. He soon regained consciousness.”

Speaking with our correspondent, Ishola said he was surprised when the policemen flagged him down, accusing him of causing traffic jam.

He said: “After I loaded my passengers from the motor park and heading to Agege, I saw the Task Force officials. They had earlier arrested a commercial bus driver right in front of me.

One of them came and accused me of causing traffic. They brought out the stun gun and used it on me. Immediately, I fainted. I didn’t know when some of my colleagues from the park came and rescued me.

They poured sachets of water on me. They also gave me milk in order to revive me. As I speak with you now, I’m still not okay. I sustained injuries on my body when they dragged me on the ground.”

Ishola further said: “While in the gutter with the passengers, the Task Force officials struggled to take possession of the steering of my bus. They eventually impounded the vehicle and chased the passengers out. I also lost about N8, 000 in my pocket.” Mrs. Baliqis Adeyemi, said she was walking past, when she saw Ishola unconscious on the ground. She looked closer at the figure and realised she knew him. She picked his phone and promptly called his family.

Adeyemi said: “I was going to my shop when I saw the man on the ground. I realised it was somebody I know. He lives in the street where I have a shop. The man is a nice person; that was why I called his family.

” The Public Affairs Officer of the Task Force, Mr. Adebayo Taofik, however denied they manhandled Ishola. He said: “Yes, Task Force officials were in the area to clear the traffic in that axis.

"They impounded buses of erring drivers. The drivers were causing road obstruction. The commercial bus drivers on that axis are fond of causing traffic jam.

The Task Force officials were there to clear the traffic. When the drivers saw our men coming, they attempted to run. It was in the process that the so-called driver fell into the gutter. The driver didn’t faint. He was in our office, at Alausa today, (Tuesday) to collect his seized vehicle.”