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Riot in Lagos After Four Persons Were Crushed to Death

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
November 22, 2006
Posted to the web November 22, 2006

By Albert Akpor Evelyn Usman, Idowu Olaide & Chioma Ikeagwuani

Riot erupted yesterday at Ojota area of Lagos State after four persons
including a driver were crushed to death by a commercial driver who was running
away from officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority(LASTMA) for
allegedly committing a traffic offence.
The fracas was between LASTMA officials and commercial bus drivers who were
protesting the death of one of their members.
The incident happened just as robbers numbering over fifty attacked four banks
at Ladipo area of Mushin and inflicted residents of the area with gun shot
wounds during the seven hour house-to- house operation. However, the Police
said it was a foiled robbery attempt as the bandits could not gain entry into
either of the banks' strong rooms.
Report said the crisis in Ojota started around 8am after a commercial bus
driver who apparently violated traffic rules was being chased by LASTMA
officials who were controlling traffic at the ever busy area. But in the
driver's bid to escape arrest by the LASTMA officials, he reportedly ran over
four commuters who at the bus stop.
Eye witness account said the bus with registration number XC601FFA somersaulted
several times before it eventually came to a halt. The driver of the bus and
two commuters reportedly died on the spot while the fourth victim, a female
identified as Marita, died at the hospital.
The situation sparked off a violent protest by commercial bus drivers who took
to the streets and allegedly attacked LASTMA officials. Hoodlums were said to
have hijacked the situation as innocent people were dispossessed of cash and
mobile phones.
It took the intervention of both Mobile and conventional policemen to disperse
the aggrieved bus drivers.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Adebayo who confirmed the
incident said there was no loss of life.
Meanwhile, robbers numbering over fifty went on rampage yesterday, as they
attacked four banks at Ladipo area of Mushin including a petrol station before
embarking a house-to-house operation at Ladipo and Ojekunle streets. Some of
the residents reportedly sustained gun shot wounds during the robbery operation
which eye witnesses said lasted for seven hours.
The robbers armed with sophisticated weapons, according to an eye witness
account, stormed the area at about 11pm in over five unmarked commercial buses
which they stationed at strategic points. They reportedly gained entry into two
of the banks (names withheld) and succeeded in breaking into the banking halls
but could not break into the strong rooms.


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