A dramatic scene unfolded on the bustling streets of Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, when a motorist went to extreme lengths to resist arrest by Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) — by lying under his own car.
The unusual protest, which occurred during peak traffic hours at Akin Adesola Road inward Ozumba Mbadiwe, created a significant traffic backlog stretching all the way to the Civic Centre axis, frustrating commuters and causing chaos on one of the city’s busiest routes.
The video, which quickly made the rounds on social media, shows the yet-to-be-identified man flat on the ground under his vehicle, refusing to move despite pleas and the presence of enforcement officers.
According to a post by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the motorist’s actions were in response to an attempt by VIO officials to arrest or tow his car.
“A motorist resisting arrest from VIO officers has kept under his vehicle thereby creating a scene and avoiding being towed at Akin Adesola inward Ozumba Mbadiwe, causing traffic backlog to Civic Centre,” LASTMA posted on X (formerly Twitter).
They also confirmed that VIO officers and police personnel were on the scene, while LASTMA officials were deployed to manage the traffic congestion resulting from the disruption.
Onlookers could be heard reacting in disbelief in the viral footage, with many Nigerians online debating the legality and ethics of both the motorist’s action and the enforcement tactics used by VIO.
Some questioned whether the man had legitimate grounds for his resistance, while others criticized the use of excessive force or perceived harassment by vehicle inspectors in Lagos.
“People are tired of random stops and harassment. But lying under a car in traffic? That’s wild,” one user posted on X.
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