By Emmanuel Daniji

A female motorist has raised concerns over the growing risk of traffic robbery in the Lekki axis of Lagos after she was attacked by suspected traffic robbers while caught in evening gridlock.

The woman, who was driving a Mercedes-Benz at about 9pm, said a three-man gang approached her vehicle and forcefully removed the windshield chrome strip from the car.

According to her account, the stolen component was worth about ₦300,000.

She said the attackers did not stop with her vehicle. After taking the car part, they reportedly moved to other motorists trapped in the traffic and allegedly dispossessed some of them of their mobile phones and other valuables.

The incident has left the motorist particularly worried because, according to her, it was not her first encounter with traffic thieves in the area.

She revealed that she had previously been targeted by criminals who allegedly stole the Mercedes-Benz logo from her G-Wagon in a similar incident.

The latest attack has therefore renewed her concerns about the safety of motorists navigating the Lekki axis, particularly at night when heavy traffic can leave drivers vulnerable and unable to quickly move away from attackers.

She urged motorists to remain alert whenever they are caught in traffic and to be cautious about strangers approaching their vehicles.

The motorist also warned drivers against stopping for people who deliberately stage emergencies or pretend to need assistance on the road, saying such situations could be used as a way to lure unsuspecting motorists into a vulnerable position.

Her account has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by motorists during traffic congestion, where criminals can exploit slow-moving or stationary vehicles to target drivers and passengers.