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BRT Vandalism Saga: Tribunal Indicts Army, Orders Public Apology To Residents Of Lagos

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The tribunal of inquiry into the July 4, 2014 road traffic accident and subsequent arson and vandalism of the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT yesterday submitted its report to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, indicting the Nigerian Army of perpetrating the acts. The tribunal added that Nigerian Army should publicly apologise to the state government and residents of Lagos State for disturbance of public peace and destruction of public utilities which was instigated by some of its officers.

The submission came eight months after the state government set up a three-man tribunal chaired by Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, rtd, to investigate the cause of the incident which occurred at Palmgrove axis of the state and submit its findings within 60 days after its inauguration. Adebajo while reading the tribunal findings, said: “The accident occurred on the night of July 3, 2014 when the soldier (late Lance Corporal Ishaya Mathew) ran his motorbike (with number plate MUS-565 QB) into a stationary BRT bus MO63 at Palm Grove Bus stop, Ikorodu Road.”

He noted that the accident occurred outside the BRT corridor, adding “the soldier caused his own death.” Explaining how the accident occurred, the chairman said: “The BRT was stationary on the highway as a result of loss of fuel supply. LAGBUS left the bus on the highway longer than necessary; while it was determined that the bus driver was not in breach of any law.

“The late motorcyclist rode his motorbike without a helmet. And this action was against section 3 (3) of the road traffic law 2012.” The chairman stated that the discovery of the corpse of late Lance Corporal Ishaya Mathew on July 4, 2014 led to the mayhem. According to him, “Extensive vandalism, burning of BRT buses, destruction of personal phones, harassment of innocent citizens which followed the death of the soldier- motorcyclist were caused by identified soldiers of the 9th Bbrigade of the Nigerian Army, Ikeja Cantonment.”

For perpetrating this act, he said that the tribunal has recommended that; “Apology should be demanded by Governor of Lagos State from the Nigerian Army. The Nigerian Army should on behalf of the 9th Brigade, Ikeja Cantonment, Ikeja apologies in writing to the people of Lagos State. And it should be published in at least two national newspapers.”

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