The students, numbering about 50, and armed with various kinds of weapons, blocked major highways at about 11: a.m in protest against the seizure of one of their union buses for driving on the Bus Rapid Transit, BRT lane, the previous day.
The incident led to a traffic jam along the axis, one of the alternative routes designated by the state government as relief for traffic gridlock that resulted from the on-going repairs on the Third Mainland Bridge.
LASTMA General Manager, Engr. Babatunde Edu, who confirmed the development, revealed that one of his men Mr. Obasanmi Oladimeji was abducted in the process at his duty post at Jibowu, Yaba by the irate students. He was later released.
He explained that, "the student's union red Mazda bus with no registration number but inscripted with "Yaba College of Technology students Union Government Aluta bus" around 1.45pm on Wednesday violated the BRT law by taking the dedicated lane and was stopped at post office bus stop towards Oyingbo.
"The eight occupants including the Union leader, Comrade Adesola Ademola became unruly and resisted arrest when stopped by the head of the operation Zone 15, Mr. Kayode Odunuga but with the intervention of the Anti Robbery Squad attached to Denton Police Station who were at the scene of the incident, arrested the offenders and later remanded them, insisting that the vehicle should be taken to the LASTMA yard.
"On getting to the LASTMA yard, the students union leader who was remorseful and pleaded for the release of the bus, saying they were in a hurry to get to a meeting at Marina, hence they decided to take the lane."
The union leader, in his undertaking, expressed regrets for the union action and pledged not to repeat such undesirable act in the future and the bus was released on compassionate ground with no fine charged.
"But, only yesterday, the students went violent , disrupted LASTMA officers from carrying out their duties by invading the zone and attacking them. A commercial bus and the controversial union bus that was earlier seized were used in carrying out the attack this morning, (yesterday)." Edu explained.
But the quick intervention of the joint efforts of the Nigeria Police at Iponri and LASTMA police saved the situation and restored normalcy to the charged atmosphere.
According to Edu: "Four impounded vehicles were vandalised and injury inflicted on officials on sight at the LASTMA yard". Sighting the police, the students retrieved and took to their heels.
"Meanwhile 27 year old Joshua Toba was arrested at Iponri office. The suspect who claimed to be an electrician at the Yaba College of Technology followed the students after he was convinced that they were going to the LASTMA office for settlement.
"According to him problem ensued when a taxi man wanted to go into the yard, thereby obstructing the movement of the union bus out of the zone and the intervention of officials in maintaining orderliness and drove them all out of the zone led to the confrontation between the law enforcements and the students."
The LASTMA boss, who condemned the act by the students, urged them to eschew acts capable of disrupting public peace and order and taking laws into their hands by attacking innocent people whenever they are aggrieved. "Activism does not embrace violence but dialogue in resolving issues."
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Leadership is by example, i wonder what the student will turn into if they become Governor or senator,Obey rules and regulation.God help our tomorrow s leader.
ReplyDeleteALUTA CONTINATA!
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