Hoodlums set ablaze BRT over death of commercial driver

CITIZENS COMPASS – A commercial bus driver in Lagos has lost his life to an accident involving a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and another bus on Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Following the driver’s death, suspected hoodlums angrily wet the BRT with petrol and set it ablaze.

The incident occurred on Wednesday, April 29, 2023, at about 9.30 a.m.
at Ifako Bridge outward Third Mainland Bridge in Ogudu axis of the state.
The bus driver who was said to be travelling outward the bridge when the inferno consumed the BRT.

It was learnt that the BRT driver and assistant escaped with minor injuries while other occupants of the bus were unhurt.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the incident to Citizens Compass in a statement signed by the Director of the Agency, Margaret Adeseye.

” The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service hss combated vehicular Fire accident
‘

‘ The accident which was reported at 09:33 hours, Wednesday, while Alausa Firefighters crew raised down to the scene which involved a commercial 14-seater volkswagen bus and a BRT ensuing in Fire.
‘

‘ Operational firefighting commenced in earnest after which a male adult was recovered and handed over to the Police from Ogudu Division.
‘

‘ ‘ The casualty who is the driver of the commercial bus was travelling while the BRT driver and his assistant escaped with minor injuries.

” The remains of the vehicles were being cleared off the expressway just as men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority are managing the traffic in the
meantime.”

LASTMA rescues seven passengers

Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said it rescued seven passengers with various degrees of injuries during the accident.

Explaining how the incident occurred, LASTMA said the commercial bus somersaulted twice and the driver died instantly following the impact of the collision which was as a result of loss of control due to over speeding.

A statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq confirmed that preliminary investigation revealed that the fully loaded commercial bus was traveling from Lagos Island heading for Ogudu when the accident occurred.

“LASTMA has carried out series of enlightenment campaigns warning motorists particularly commercial bus drivers to stop over speeding and adhere strictly to speed limit signs erected by government across the State”

He said other emergency responders including Traffic Police Officers supported officials of LASTMA at the accident scene, Adebayo confirmed that suspected hoodlums on noticing the death of the commercial driver whose body was lying beside the upturned commercial bus, angrily set ablaze the bus belonging to the Lagos State Bus Service Limited.

” The General Manager of LASTMA Mr. Bolaji Oreagba however warned members of the public particularly street urchins not to take laws into their hands at any accident scene but to allow appropriate authorities to do the needful.”