BRT bus crushes three to death in Lagos

Three persons have lost their lives in a car accident within the Alakija region of Lagos.

The victims, traveling on two commercial motorcycles, reportedly collided head-on with a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle en route to Okomaiko from Mile 2 in the Ojo area of the state.

Reports indicate that they were returning home after a football match at Navy Town, also located in Ojo, when their motorcycles collided with the Lagos State government-owned commercial bus.

Outraged individuals were prepared to set the bus ablaze, but timely intervention by officers from FESTAC Police Station, under the leadership of Divisional Police Officer Balogun Gboyega, prevented this escalation.

One of the motorcyclists’ bodies was claimed by their family, while the remaining three were taken to FESTAC Police Station. Additionally, it was reported that the BRT driver was rescued by the police from an enraged mob that nearly attacked him.

Both the BRT driver and the bus were transported to the police station. A police source emphasized that many motorcycle riders were unaware that using the BRT lane from Okomaiko to Mile 2 had been prohibited since the initiation of BRT bus operations on that route.

“The state government had earlier last week outlawed the use of the BRT lane by either okada riders or commercial buses. Some of them are aware but even at that they still want to drive or ride on the BRT lane. This accounts for the crash,” the police source said.

 The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent on the phone said the auto crash occurred at about 5.40 pm on Wednesday. Hundeyin said the crash involved a BRT Mercedes bus with registration number BRI 043 belonging to the state and was driven by one Olubor Oluwasegun.

He said the driver was driving along Mile 2 BRT lane heading for Iyana Iba side and that on getting to Alakija, ran over a motorcycle.

“The rider was riding against traffic with two passengers identified as Waidi Kadiri Momoh, 23, and Enegide Azuka, 20. It also involved one other identified as Divine Omosowo. As a result of the accident, four victims sustained injuries. Three died on the spot while Omosowo was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention. Two corpses were deposited at the Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba,” he said.