Encomium
On the morning of Friday, July 4, 2014, residents and commuters of Palm Grove bus stop area, along Ikorodu Road, Lagos were shell-shocked – as they not only witnessed a military officer being knocked to his death by a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT), but a retaliatory onslaught by the deceased’s colleagues.
As reports emerged all over the media of the reprisal attacks by the soldiers, ENCOMIUM Weekly, in a bid to dig deeper, visited the scene of the incident on Saturday, July 5, 2014.
These were our findings…
We discovered that the Palm Grove bus terminal, which used to wear a glowing look-with flowers arranged expertly to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the terminal – had been rendered a caricature of its former self, as the soldiers also burnt three BRT buses-according to witnesses. It was evident that the bus terminal was in dire need of infrastructure upgrading to get to tip-top shape.
It was apparent there had been a fire at the bus terminal, as it stunk of the smell of burns with ashes all over the floor of bus terminal walkway.
ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke to witnesses who gave accounts of the incident…
(NB: Names of witnesses withheld as requested)
A middle-aged man, who sells household wares just behind the bus stop spoke in a mixture of pidgin and English…
“It happened around 9 in the morning, three buses were razed at this bus stop. The army come for morning just dey vex, them dey para that morning. And you know, when army don vex, anything fit happen. So, I just decide say make I go house. Some people too pack their market and went home. When I come back, I see all the things wey dem burn. They just scattered the bus stop, I don’t know wetin dem use start the fire o, we just see fire for the bus stop and for the BRT”
Another eyewitness, who sells Fan Milk products, though skeptical to speak with our reporter, squealed in pidgin…
“Them come for morning after the BRT bus don jam the army man. The thing vex the army well well, because as dem come like this, dem stop all the BRT wey reach the bus stop. The driver and the people wey dey sell ticket run comot make the army for no catch them. Na three of the BRT bus na him dem burn for here. Me I run too, dem no even let motor pass again. Abeg, I no fit tell you anything again. No vex”
We also spoke with a secondary school student, who, as a result of the traffic gridlock caused by the army personnel halting traffic, had to trek all the way from Palm Grove to her school in the Agidingbi area of Lagos. Her frustration and anger were apparent as we spoke to her…
“I was in the LAGBUS behind the BRT bus that knocked down the army man. The army man was riding a bike, I think it was a power bike. As he sped into the BRT lane, the BRT hit him. After sometime, army people just came from nowhere and started stopping everybody. They were calling each other on phone. Not long after, they were many. As they stopped cars and buses, I had to trek to school. I got to school very late because of it. All my class mates were asking me what happened.”
‘We can’t speak for BRT, we are only regulators’ – LAMATA
ENCOMIUM Weekly sought the reaction of Lagos Municipal Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) on the incident and therefore put a call across to the external relations specialist of the agency.
In a telephone chat, he said, “Sorry we are only regulators of BRT. You should speak to the operators. We can’t speak on behalf of BRT.”
‘We would soon begin investigation on it’ – Lagos PPRO, DSP Ngozi Braide
In a bid to get the reaction of the police on the incident, ENCOMIUM Weekly called the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ngozi Braide. In a phone chat, she revealed that the police are on the matter, saying, “I can’t comment on it for now, but we are aware of the incident. We would soon begin thorough investigation on it.”
-FASHOLA condemns soldiers attack
The Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has described the action of soldiers who went on rampage, causing mayhem on Friday, July 4, 2014 morning, destroying more than three BRT buses, as disappointing and worthy of condemnati-on. Mr. Fashola, who promised to issue a robust response as soon as he gets a formal report of what happened, said, if preliminary details available to him were correct, then the soldiers’ action was irresponsible.
“There is allegation that someone who was not supposed to be on the BRT route was on it. As far I know, if something happens to you while you are conducting an unlawful act, it is a criminal offense in its own sense,” he said. “But 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 being suggested; because I am waiting for official report to let me know who played what role and what happened and whether the brigade commander has been able to identify the people who committed the offense,” he added, while addressing journalists on Friday July 4 evening.
More Reactions trail rampage:
Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, described the brutality by the soldiers as insane. He also called on President Goodluck Jonathan to caution the Nigerian Army over their excesses. He added that the security situation in the country was not an opportunity for the military to brutalize civilians.
Renowned legal practitioner, FEMI FALANA, SAN
“The brutalization of unarmed civilians by armed soldiers had been a routine since the 70s. I urge the relevant authorities to apprehend the soldiers who perpetrated the act.”
FESTUS KEYAMO, Lagos-based lawyer also lent his voice:
“The action by the soldiers, if indeed it was true, was barbaric, uncivilized and a disdain for civil authority. I think they need some lessons on civility.”
– MICHEL NWOKIKE
