The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into the recent alleged attack on passengers of its Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system by suspected miscreants in the Orile area.
This comes as the government assures residents of their safety on all public transportation platforms in Lagos State, saying that all necessary legal steps are being taken to protect residents and visitors.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Bus Services Limited, LBSL, Mr Idowu Oguntona, who made the remark, decried the incident.
Oguntona, in a statement signed by Mr Afolabi Olawale, LBSL Public Affairs Officer, described the trend of hoodlums attacking government buses as both “alarming and unacceptable.”
“The Lagos State Government will not stand by idly and allow such acts of lawlessness and illicit acts to continue in the state,” he vowed.
Oguntona added that the incident by hoodlums who vandalised the bus and caused panic among the passengers was inhumane, intolerable, and totally unacceptable.
“The bus, which was traveling from Mile 2 to Leventis, was approaching the Ore-Ofe bus stop on the Orile axis with 35 passengers on board when a large mob suddenly emerged and swarmed the bus.
“The attackers assaulted passengers, stabbed them with sharp objects, and robbed them of their phones and other valuables,” he explained.
Oguntona reiterated government’s commitment in ensuring that those responsible for the heinous act are punished.
“These criminals, who cannot be true Lagosians but rather agents of anarchy, have no place in any decent society,” he said
Oguntona, however, assured Lagos residents that their safety remained government’s top priority, adding that security agencies are actively pursuing perpetrators of the crime.
He therefore, issued a stern warning to anyone considering engaging in such despicable acts to desist forthwith, adding that their actions would not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“The Lagos State Government is committed to taking all necessary legal steps to protect residents and visitors.
“There is no need for fear; we assure all commuters of their safety while travelling on all public transportation platforms in Lagos State,” Oguntola assured.
Recall that some passengers boarding a high-capacity bus-based transit system, BRT, were attacked and robbed by some street thugs on Tuesday in Orile Lagos.
A victim of the attack, also an eyewitness, Dare Abiola, noted that the street boys, who disguised themselves as protesters against the seizure of commercial motorcycles, popularly called “Okoda,” by the taskforce, attacked their bus around 1 p.m. and carted away passengers’ valuables.
Abiola also lamented that his money and some of his valuables were stolen by the hoodlums, adding that the attack went on for about 20 to 30 minutes without the intervention of security personnel.
However, he noted that he went to Orile police station to file a formal complaint.
