An angry mob on Friday set a BRT bus ablaze at Ogolonto Bus Stop in Ikorodu, Lagos, after it crushed a commercial motorcyclist to death.
It was gathered that the accident occurred along the restricted BRT lane on Ikorodu Road. Eyewitnesses said the motorcyclist was riding alone on the lane when he was hit by the BRT bus and died on the spot.
The death triggered instant outrage. Aggrieved youths and passersby descended on the driver, beating him, before setting the bus on fire. A video circulating on social media showed the bus engulfed in flames.
The driver was later rescued by police officers and operatives of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and taken for medical attention.
Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Amodu Shakiru, said the agency received a distress call at about 10:21 a.m. and found the bus in flames on arrival.
He said, “The information got to us at about 10:21 hrs, and on arrival at the scene, we met the BRT bus at Ogolonto Bus Stop, along Ikorodu Road, and we were able to douse the fire on the bus. It was reported that some aggrieved persons set the bus on fire because of an accident the BRT bus was involved in. The driver was beaten, but he is still alive. He was rescued by security operatives and has received medical attention.”
Traffic was disrupted for hours as emergency responders battled to put out the fire and clear the wreckage.
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