A mob, yesterday, set a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle ablaze over the death of the driver of a 14-seater Volkswagen bus, popularly called ‘Danfo’.
The yet-to-be-identified driver was alone when the accident occurred at Ifako Bridge outward Third Mainland Bridge, Ogudu, Lagos. The BRT driver and his assistant escaped with minor injuries.
An eyewitness, who spoke with The Guardian on condition of anonymity, said the mob descended on the BRT bus following the driver’s death. He said policemen around could not do anything to prevent the mob.
“The driver did not kill him, intentionally, so, I don’t understand why they burnt the vehicle”. The eyewitness said.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, which was on site to contain the vehicular fire accident, reported the incident by 09:33.a.m.
Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Adeseye Margaret said: “A burnt and lifeless male adult was recovered and handed over to the Police from Ogudu Division, after operational firefighting commenced.
MEANWHILE, the Lagos State government arraigned 18-year-old Uzuokwu Solomon, for offences relating to making hoax calls to emergency responder, which is punishable under the Lagos State Fire Service law and Command and Control Centre law 2013.
The culprit is alleged to have called the emergency line of the Fire Service on Friday, April 14, 2023 at 5:35.p.m from Harmony Estate, Langbasa, Ajah, Lagos. He reported a fire emergency within the estate, leading to the activation of emergency processes and eventual dispatch of the fire trucks from Lekki Phase II Fire service station. On arrival it was discovered that there was no fire incident in the estate. Because of the frequency of such calls in the past, the Estate security helped in the investigation, which led to the arrest of the notorious false caller.
Consequently, the culprit was arraigned before Ogba Magistrate Court, yesterday.
Speaking with journalists, Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, expressed delight in the arrest, while reiterating the stand of the State government on malicious false calls, which is punishable under the Lagos State laws.
She believes that the arrest and consequent arraignment will serve as deterrent for other misguided citizens who are in the habit of making false calls and misleading emergency responders.
It is instructive to inform the general public that false calls have astronomically increased in the last six months.
