Passengers assaulted as Lagos bus drivers protest alleged extortion

There was confusion on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos on Tuesday as commuter bus drivers protested alleged extortion by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) and council officials.

The protest grounded public transportation in the axis as the protesters reportedly whipped passengers inside few buses that defied the no-work order and the effects extended to other areas, leaving many passengers stranded at various bus stops, according to The Nation’s report.

Commuter bus operators last week also downed tools in the Ikotun and Igando areas of the state over allegations of extortion that led to the killing of one of their colleagues.

Commuters were forced to trek from Iyana-Isolo to Mile Two as the protesters ordered them off defiant vehicles.

At Cele Bus Stop, a bus driver and a commercial motorcyclist were injured by armed hoodlums who joined the protests.

A motorcyclist, who attempted to defy the stop- work order, was slashed on the hand with a machete by a thug as he sped off with his fare.

The Nation gathered that the protesters set up bonfires on the expressway, inward Oshodi and prevented commercial vehicles, motorcyclists from operating on both sides of the road.

But private vehicles and tricycles were not prevented from operating, a development that saw tricyclists increasing their fares by 50 per cent.

Passengers, who succeeded in boarding commercial vehicles or motorbikes, were ordered to disembark.

Most passengers were forced to trek long distances in order to meet up with their engagements.

Displaying placards with inscriptions such as “End LASTMA brutality” “End Taskforce wahala”, “End LASTMA blocking, blocking with Taskforce” and “End Taskforce in Lagos State”, the protesters chanted “No more Taskforce.”

According to them, the officials routinely and indiscriminately seize their vehicles and made them pay huge amount of money before they are released.

A bus driver, who gave his name as “Sefiu” lamented his ordeal in the hands of the officials.

He said two of his buses were recently impounded “for no reason” by Taskforce officials.

“I paid N55, 000 to recover one of them. They are always harassing us. The road we follow to the airport has been blocked for repairs, yet when we follow the alternative route, which is one-way, they’ll arrest us,” he lamented.

Another protester, Kingsley, claimed they were being intimidated by government officials.

“Their wahala is too much. We want Governor Babajide (Sanwo-Olu) to help us,” he added.

Chibuike, who identified himself as a bus driver and member of the National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW), also accused the officials of extortion.

He urged the state government to intervene.

Contacted for reaction, the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) of Taskforce, Femi Moliki, said no official of the agency operates between Toyota and Mile 2, adding that the agency was reorganising its operation to prevent illegal taskforce operatives in the metropolis.

Moliki said 16 suspects were arrested for allegedly taking advantage of the peaceful protest to carry out violence and rob commuters.

He said the miscreants were caught molesting passersby and destroying public facilities.

The Nation