Soldiers pound on BTR buses over colleague’s death in Lagos

There was pandemonium at Palmgrove bus stop along the popular Ikorodu road, Lagos, as soldiers yesterday went on rampage, grounding human and vehicular movements following allegations that a Rapid Transport Bus (BRT), belonging to the Lagos State government ran over and killed one of them.

They reportedly burnt about 10 BRT buses during the rampage. The soldiers barricaded both sides of the road in the process. Some persons were also injured following the ensuing rampage.

An eye witnesses who spoke to THE CITIZEN said that pandemonium started in the area when about 100 soldiers suddenly emerged and blocked the express way on both sides of the road, smashing BRT buses and causing traffic gridlock. They said that following the development, some drivers abandoned their vehicles on the road and took to their heels to avoid being killed by the soldiers, who vandalised any BRT buses on sight before setting them ablaze.

He said that the soldier who was allegedly knocked down was on the BRT lane but however, did not die. It was alleged that the said soldier made a telephone call to his colleagues after he was knocked down and refused to listen to the pleas from those at the scene to forgive the driver of the bus.

However, another version of the incident, had it that the soldier with an unknown identity was riding a commercial motorcycle popularly known as okada along the BRT lane when he was crushed while another claimed the motorbike the deceased mounted was being chased by traffic officials. Driver of the bus was alleged to have abandoned the soldier, an action said to have angered his colleagues who subsequently went on rampage and allegedly attacked any BRT bus on sight.

It was gathered that his colleague, who was with him on the motorcycle however, mobilised other soldiers from a nearby barracks who on arrival to the scene, immediately swung into action, taking laws into their hands by vandalising BRT buses.

Fashola reacts, says reaction height of indiscipline

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state condemned the sudden attack by soldiers and other public property in the state following the death of their colleague allegedly crushed to death by one of the buses.

Reacting to the development, Fashola said: “It is really disappointing that public servants and that is what soldiers are, paid with tax payer’s money, will act in a manner that is been suggested because I am waiting for official report to let me know who play what role and what happened.

“If the action of the soldiers turns out to be true, it will be very irresponsible conduct to put it very mildly. I remember in 2006 when soldiers stormed barracks and set ablaze the Area C Police Command.

“We just managed to reconstruct the command. If buses that citizens are complaining that were not enough are set ablaze, I do not know how setting ablaze buses recompense any injury that one may have suffered. I do not know how damaging public property is the restitution for the injury that may have come.

“For now, the only thing that I can say to you is that when I get the full fact, I will address the residents, to let them know what happened and what the state action will be.

We are yet to ascertain number of buses affected- LAGBUS

Head of Operations, LAGBUS Asset Management, Mr. Tunde Disu disputed the claim that a soldier was hit by one of the buses, adding that ‘’to the best of my knowledge, somebody who was riding a motorbike rammed into the back of a broken down bus. He was in mufti so nobody can say if he was a soldier or not.’’

Disu further said that the incident involved both the blue and red buses pointing out that it was difficult to ascertain the number of those affected. ‘’We are still collating and cannot really determine the number of affected buses now,’’ he added. Vanguard