Hoodlums raid BRT in Lagos, rob passengers

In a troubling event on Tuesday, passengers of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Orile, Lagos, were assaulted and robbed by street thugs posing as protesters.

The attack occurred around 1 pm when the assailants targeted the bus, seizing valuables from the passengers.

Dare Abiola, a victim and eyewitness, described the harrowing experience.

Abiola explained that the attackers had disguised themselves as demonstrators protesting the seizure of motorcycles by the task force.

As the BRT bus neared the Odunade bus stop, passengers noticed a crowd gathering, with some people marching towards the Orile bus stop.

Abiola shared, “I boarded a BRT bus from Mile 2 going to CMS. When we got to the Odunade bus stop, we noticed a crowd had gathered, and some were marching to the Orile bus stop.” He further explained that the thugs then attacked their bus, seizing money and other valuables from the passengers.

The attack reportedly lasted for 20 to 30 minutes, during which there was no intervention from security personnel. This absence of a timely response has raised concerns among passengers and residents about the safety and security of public transportation systems in the area.

The group of street thugs claimed they were heading to the Orile police station to confront officers who had conducted a raid on motorcyclists in the Odunade-Coker axis. This raid appears to have been the catalyst for the attack on the BRT bus, with the thugs using the situation as a cover for their criminal activities.

This incident has sparked a call for enhanced security measures on public transit systems in Lagos. Passengers and community members are urging authorities to take swift action to ensure the safety of commuters and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.