Metro
Three Confirmed Dead As Brake-Failed BRT Rams into Market
Three persons were confirmed dead and several others injured on Wednesday when a Bus Rapid Transit vehicle rammed into a market fence at Alapere in the Ketu area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the BRT, with number plate KSF-940XX, had a brake failure when the incident happened around 7am.
It was learnt that the driver lost control and rammed into the wall, hitting another commercial bus loading passengers.
An eyewitness, Chukwuemeka Sunday, said the BRT vehicle crushed a woman who was coming from the market, an apprentice trying to cross the road and a wheelbarrow pusher.
The victims were said to have died on the spot as the BRT driver fled the scene.
The eyewitness also said several others who were injured were taken to a hospital for treatment.
The Punch gathered that another BRT vehicle with the number plate, GGE-405YF, driving towards a BRT lane, was also affected.
When the Punch reporter visited the scene of the accident, policemen from the Alapere and Ketu divisions, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority were seen controlling the traffic.
Another eyewitness, Kelvin Olabode, lamented the condition of BRT vehicles in the area.
He said, “That BRT bus had a brake failure and rammed into people standing to board buses to Ikorodu. Three people died instantly and several others were injured. One of the deceased persons was crushed beyond recognition, with her brains splashed on the ground.
“Not all these BRT buses have brakes. They are used to dragging the road with smaller vehicles. Everyone is hustling like them. I saw the wheelbarrow pusher this morning hustling for his daily bread, but now he is gone.”
A witness, who did not mention her name for personal reasons, identified one of the deceased as her neighbor, Iya Bolu.
She noted that they were both coming from the market and she advised the victim to alight with her at Garage Bus-Stop, but she refused, saying she would find a bus faster at Ketu Bus-Stop.
“She then got a wheelbarrow to help her push her oranges and bananas to the bus stop, where she was hit by the bus. I have informed her husband,” she added.
Our correspondent observed that the father of the apprentice, identified as Lekan, broke down in tears on arriving at the scene.
“Death has wasted all my effort in life,” he muttered in Yoruba.
“The completion of his apprenticeship as a butcher was supposed to be on November 19. Death has wasted all my efforts and the money that I put into Lekan’s life,” the distraught father added.
The LASTMA Director of Public Affairs, Taofiq Adebayo, said the accident occurred around 7am and claimed three lives.
He said, “The accident involved a red BRT bus which had a brake failure, and a Volkswagen, popularly called Danfo.
“Preliminary investigation shows that the accident took the lives of three pedestrians waiting to board buses around the Ketu axis.
“The three dead persons were taken by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit to a mortuary and the eight people seriously injured were taken to a general hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.”
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, also confirmed three deaths.
The Punch
The Honourable Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has conveyed Nigeria’s dedication to fostering effective partnerships with INTERPOL member countries to tackle crimes, combating terrorism and maintain global peace as well as commitment to ensuring public safety and upholding the principles of justice, according to a statement signed by the Ministry’s Deputy Director, Press, Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP).
The Minister who led the Nigerian delegation comprising Vice President Africa (INTERPOL), AIG Umar Garba (RTD); Director, Police Inspectorate Department (PID) Mrs. Bola Blessing Aderele; Head (INTERPOL, National Crime Bureau), AIG Lanre Bankole and others are attending 91st Interpol General Assembly in Vienna, Austria to commemorate the Centenary Celebrations.
The Minister expressed optimism about the future prospects of international cooperation in combating crime and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with Interpol and its member countries to ensure a safer, more secure world Gaidam acknowledged the pivotal role played by Interpol in promoting global security through its extensive network, data-sharing mechanisms, and operational support as well as funding of infrastructure in Nigeria.
“The centenary celebrations of Interpol served as a moment of reflection and appreciation of a century of international collaboration in law enforcement among member countries. Our active participation in the event further solidified Nigeria’s role as a responsible and proactive member of the international law enforcement community,” the Minister said.
He added: “Our presence highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to international security and cooperation as well as a renewed commitment from all member countries to work collectively in addressing the evolving challenges of crime in the 21st century.”
The Interpol General Assembly is an important platform for global law enforcement agencies to engage in constructive dialogue, exchange best practices, and strengthen collaboration in combating transnational crime.
During the assembly, discussions encompassed various topics, including the latest advancements in policing techniques, emerging security challenges, and strategies to enhance cross-border intelligence sharing.
The delegates deliberated on initiatives aimed at countering terrorism, cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other forms of transnational criminal activities. The momentous event witnessed the gathering of 196 member countries from Africa, Asia, and Europe.
The United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has suspended the flight dispatcher who entered the wrong code to the dispatch document on Sunday, for a flight to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, which ended up at Asaba airport..
The flight dispatcher (names withheld), according to reports, was issued a suspension letter on Tuesday, by the management of the airline following an outcry from the public, which caused the carrier avoidable embarrassment.
Although the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is already investigating the incident, the suspension of the Dispatcher will remain in place until after the conclusion of the probe.
Head, Corporate Communications, United Nigeria Airlines, Mr. Achilleus-Chud Uchegbu, confirmed the suspension.
Uchegbu clarified that the suspension is not a sack, “but an action to enable investigation.”
The flight Dispatcher, on Sunday, entered into the dispatch document ABB, which is the code for Asaba International Airport, Delta State, instead of ABV, the code for Abuja airport.
Commenting on the incident, President of the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), Comrade Galadima Abednego, described the situation as worrisome.
Speaking in Kano at the ongoing National Air Traffic Communicators’ Association of Nigeria (NACAN) 10th Annual General Meeting/Conference, Galadima said: “I would not like to call it a diversion. It is quite a worrisome situation, where an aircraft that is Abuja bound found itself in Asaba. It has serious safety and security breaches.”
A wave of fresh protests have broken out in the Kano metropolis as thousands of residents on Wednesday trooped to the streets demonstrating their rejection of the Appeal Court judgment sacking of Governor Abba Yusuf.
The appellate court, on September 20, upheld the verdict of the State Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay, which sacked Yusuf and declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),Nasir Ganuwa, the authentic winner of the March 18 governorship election in the State.
The tribunal had ruled that 165,663 votes garnered by Yusuf of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) were invalid on the grounds that they were not signed or stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), thus reducing his votes to 853,939 while those of the APC rival remained at 890,705.
Yusuf, who was not satisfied with the tribunal judgment, took his case to the Appeal Court only for it to uphold the verdict.
With the outcome of the appeal court, there has been tension in the state as several groups who are in support of Yusuf have been holding sporadic protests against the ruling which they see as a travesty of justice.
Different groups had also reportedly fixed protests but were dispelled by security operatives who prevented them from going ahead with the demonstrations to prevent break down of law and order.
However, despite concerted efforts by the police and other security agencies, the protesters defied all warnings and took over the streets in the city to protest the ruling of the appeal court.
The protesters were seen carrying placards as chanting slogans like “We will not accept it”; “We will not allow it”; “Kano belongs to Abba”; “Our mandate must be restored”; “Injustice exposed in CTC”; among others.
It was gathered that efforts by security operatives to disperse the protesters were abortive as they stood their ground and refused to back off.
