LAGOS— A mob yesterday, barricaded the Mile
Two‑Badagry expressway, protesting the killing of
three primary school pupils by a commercial bus
driver.
Two of the deceased were said to be children of
same parents.
There were different accounts of how the pupils
were killed in the unforunate incident. A version of
the account had it that the deceased, whose
identities were not immediately ascertained were at
the median, trying to cross over to the opposite side
of the road when the commercial bus ran over
them.
Another version had it that they had successfully
crossed to the opposite side when the bus, moving
against traffic, rammed
into them.
The protesters, who were armed with dangerous
weapons, reportedly set three commercial buses
ablaze while several vehicles’ windscreens were
shattered.
The protest resulted in a gridlock which forced
commuters to trek long distances before they could
board buses to their destinations.
One of the protesters, who simply gave his name as
Lekan Ajayi said: “The reckless manner in which
bus drivers ply this route is deplorable. Several
persons have been killed along this route, no thanks
to these drivers who drive with reckless abandon.
The most annoying aspect of it all is that when they
knock down someone they won’t wait to assist the
person to the hospital. Rather, they will continue
their business as if nothing had happened.”
“In this case, the driver of the Hiace bus was not
patient enough to allow the one ahead of him move.
In his bid to move ahead, he veered off his lane
because he was on high speed and ran over the
pupils who were standing on the median at ACOED
bus stop.
“Commuters who witnessed the incident went on
the trail of the fleeing bus but could not get the
driver or the conductor. That was what led to the
protest.”
One of the pupils, who was later identified as Odu
Timothy, a primary four pupil of Anglican Primary
School, Otto Awori, died on the spot. The other two
died while efforts were on to take them to the
hospital. Two others who sustained injuries were
rushed to the hospital.”
However, Police sources at Area ‘K’, Morogbo,
dismissed claims that three pupils lost their lives in
the tragic incident, stating rather that only one
person died.
According to Police sources, “the incident occurred
at about 7.30 a.m. after a commercial bus ran over
one pupil at Ijanikin and she died on the spot. The
incident generated a mob that set the bus ablaze
after its driver and conductor fled. Normalcy has
been restored.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, failed.
Two‑Badagry expressway, protesting the killing of
three primary school pupils by a commercial bus
driver.
Two of the deceased were said to be children of
same parents.
There were different accounts of how the pupils
were killed in the unforunate incident. A version of
the account had it that the deceased, whose
identities were not immediately ascertained were at
the median, trying to cross over to the opposite side
of the road when the commercial bus ran over
them.
Another version had it that they had successfully
crossed to the opposite side when the bus, moving
against traffic, rammed
into them.
The protesters, who were armed with dangerous
weapons, reportedly set three commercial buses
ablaze while several vehicles’ windscreens were
shattered.
The protest resulted in a gridlock which forced
commuters to trek long distances before they could
board buses to their destinations.
One of the protesters, who simply gave his name as
Lekan Ajayi said: “The reckless manner in which
bus drivers ply this route is deplorable. Several
persons have been killed along this route, no thanks
to these drivers who drive with reckless abandon.
The most annoying aspect of it all is that when they
knock down someone they won’t wait to assist the
person to the hospital. Rather, they will continue
their business as if nothing had happened.”
“In this case, the driver of the Hiace bus was not
patient enough to allow the one ahead of him move.
In his bid to move ahead, he veered off his lane
because he was on high speed and ran over the
pupils who were standing on the median at ACOED
bus stop.
“Commuters who witnessed the incident went on
the trail of the fleeing bus but could not get the
driver or the conductor. That was what led to the
protest.”
One of the pupils, who was later identified as Odu
Timothy, a primary four pupil of Anglican Primary
School, Otto Awori, died on the spot. The other two
died while efforts were on to take them to the
hospital. Two others who sustained injuries were
rushed to the hospital.”
However, Police sources at Area ‘K’, Morogbo,
dismissed claims that three pupils lost their lives in
the tragic incident, stating rather that only one
person died.
According to Police sources, “the incident occurred
at about 7.30 a.m. after a commercial bus ran over
one pupil at Ijanikin and she died on the spot. The
incident generated a mob that set the bus ablaze
after its driver and conductor fled. Normalcy has
been restored.”
Efforts to get the reaction of the Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, failed.
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