•LSBL assures justice for Ayanwole
A Petitions to compel Lagos Bus Services Limited (LSBL) to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) and dashboard cameras in Bus Rapid Transits (BRTs) and the new Lagos taxis as well as legislation to compel Uber drivers to install cameras, yesterday, garnered over 10,000 signatures out of expected 15,000 mark.
The petition by Concerned Nigerians led Comrade Deji Adeyanju, was initiated in reaction to the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwole, the 22-year-old lady, who got missing in transit, while on board of BRT bus on February 26, before she was found dead by the Lagos police command.
The group stated: “It is tragic that in the week that we’re celebrating International Women’s Day, a young woman, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, an innocent Nigerian citizen was gruesomely murdered inside a Lagos State bus, on her way home, and her private parts removed, apparently for ritual purposes.
“We remember vividly the case of Miss. Iniobong Umoren, who was brutally murdered, while she was seeking employment.
“We also note that for every story that gets to the limelight, there are at least ten other women whose death or kidnap has gone unreported. We must change the narrative.
“We are calling on Lagos State Government and the state’s commissioner of police, Abiodun Alabi, to announce and prosecute everyone involved in this gruesome murder, no matter how highly placed and unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate demise of Ms. Bamise.
“We want our law enforcement systems to be proactive by putting in place the following demands and measures:
“The Lagos State Government must, as a matter of urgency, install CCTC or dashboard cameras on all BRT buses and the recently introduced Lagos taxi cars and Ubers and Bolt.
“Every Nigerian woman deserves to live her life to the fullest. In recent years, the life of an average Nigerian citizen has become almost worthless in the hands of those whose primary duty is the protection of life and property.
We also demand a proactive investigation into the ritual killings in Lagos State and the entire South-Western Nigeria. The government must not wait for the next unfortunate victim to die before it will initiate investigations into this unwholesome practice that has taken us back to the dark days of human rituals.
MEANWHILE, the management of Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL) , yesterday, expressed sadness over the demise of Ayanwole.
LBSL said it acknowledged the emotional trauma of the deceased family.
The Managing Director of LBSL, Idowu Oguntona, in a statement said: “In line with the Lagos State governor’s firm commitment, we will continue to give the family and the appropriate authorities the necessary support that will ensure the prompt conclusion of investigations to bring the perpetrator(s) of this evil act to justice.
“In this very sad period, we want to extend our heartfelt sympathy to the family and loved ones of Miss. Oluwabamishe Ayanwola. We share in their grief and pray that God will give them the required fortitude to bear this deep loss.
He noted that LSBL has been in operation for three years and has maintained an excellent safety record.
“Our customers are at the heart of what we do, therefore at LBSL, we are not unaware of the concerns of Lagosians at this time. We wish to reassure our stakeholders/Commuters, that we have already begun a review of our safety and security procedures. Over the course of the next few weeks, we shall engage the public, reminding them of all the safety features in our buses and how to use them.”
