Nigeria: Military On Rampage, Burn BRT Buses - NewsRescue.com

July o4, 2014

By Ibrahim Olalekan

Pandemonium was reported to have occurred at Onipanu, along the Ikorodu Road in Lagos State as men of the Nigerian Army publicly revenged the death of their colleague, Matthew Ishaya, a lance corporal, who was knocked down and killed on the BRT lane.

Corporal Matthew was reported to be on a bike and riding along the BRT lane when the incident happened. The driver of the BRT bus who is yet to be identified fled the scene of incident to avoid being lynched to death.

Meanwhile, men of the military from the Intelligence Unit of the Nigerian Army at Yaba, Lagos State, arrived Onipanu in their numbers and resolved to destroying and burning of BRT buses belonging to the state government.

While these acts were going on, Punch Newspaper reported that the military men blocked one side of the ever-busy road, stopping any BRT buses plying the route, four of which were allegedly set ablaze and the shed at the bus stop was also not spared as it was razed.

Some commuters and pedestrians, passing through the area alleged that they were manhandled by some irate soldiers, who equally barred journalists and itinerant photographers and social media enthusiasts from recording or taking pictures of the mayhem and that of the deceased.

Reacting to this, the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro denied that soldiers burnt buses or destroyed the BRT buses belonging to the state government.

He said, “I have been briefed by the Chief of Army Staff and I am aware some thugs in the area took advantage of the incident to wreak havoc. I urge my dear people of Lagos to be calm and peaceful.”

Obanikoro, however assured commuters and residents of Lagos State that the Military has taken necessary steps to restore peace and forestall further breakdown of law and order.