BURN EIGHT BRT BUSES
We gathered that the soldier who was going to work with his colleague on motorbike was crushed around 9AM. His passenger colleague however survived and immediately notified his colleagues in a nearby barack who invaded the area, setting all BRT buses within sight on fire. Eye Witnesses say at least eight buses have been touched.
Their activities led to heavy traffic jam on Ikorodu Road and adjourning areas. Drivers and passengers on BRT fled as the rampaging soldiers attacked them. Passengers of smaller buses have to abandon the buses and ran for their lives as the soldiers took over the road in protest for killing of their colleagues.
The entire road was deserted, traffic was at a standstill while commercial buses coming from Ojota refused to pick passengers to Yaba area as all they avoided Ikorodu road to avoid danger. The soldiers were said to have beaten up anybody on sight. They beat drivers and passengers or anyone who moved closer to try to take their pictures.
An eyewitness told our correspondent two civilians were beaten up and a guy who was taking pictures was beaten and his phone smashed on the express road.
Some soldiers were said to have left the expressway and took big sticks from women cooking by the road to break the glasses of the buses as one of them took stones and allegedly threw it into the crowd twice.
A LASTMA official, who craved anonymity said there was a broken down vehicle on BRT lane inward Anthony. Two soldiers were on a motorcycle. They sped and ran into the bus and the soldier riding the bike died instantly. The passenger went to mobilise other soldiers and they took to the street and pounced on people.”
He added that the soldiers vandalised several BRT buses and caused pandemonium on the expressway leading to serious traffic gridlock.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Lagos State, Aderemi Ibirogba said it is sad that the soldiers invaded the expressway and unleash mayhem on Ikorodu Road, leading to traffic gridlock.
According to him, the state government was in touch with the military authority and had reported the matter and that the military had assured that the situation would soon be put under control.
“I can only advise the public to avoid Ikorodu road for now. The military authority has assured us that in no time, everything will be under control. The public should bear with us as we did not plan for this.
At the time of filling this report, there were no BRT buses on Ikorodu Road as they have gone to park the vehicles to avoid being burnt by the soldiers.
However, the Commanding officer of the area was said to have come to the scene and was able to placate the soldiers to withdraw from the road and salvaged the situation, but the aftermath of the crisis has left untold traffic gridlock in the area which would take a while to disappear.
