Police begin probe as fashion designer goes ‘missing after boarding BRT bus’

The Lagos state police command says it has commenced investigation into the alleged disappearance of Ayanwola Oluwabamise, a 22-year-old lady who boarded a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) vehicle on February 26.

Adekunle Ajisebutu, Lagos police spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday, said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the alleged disappearance of Oluwabamise.

BACKGROUND

According to NAN, the 22-year-old works as a fashion designer at Chevron Estate in Ajah, Lagos and spends the weekends at Ota, Ogun state, with her sister.

On February 26, while returning to Ota from Ajah, Oluwabamise was said to have boarded a BRT bus heading to Oshodi, Lagos at about 7pm at Chevron bus stop.

During the journey to Oshodi, the fashion designer was said to have observed that the driver was not picking up other passengers at subsequent bus stops along the route.

Disturbed, she messaged her friend and sent voice notes detailing her predicament.

She told her friend that the driver of the BRT bus said he liked her and asked for her name and other details, according to NAN.

Oluwabamise also asked her friend to pray for her as she was suspicious of the bus driver, and in response, her friend asked her to alight at Oworonsoki bus stop, some kilometres to Oshodi.

The fashion designer equally sent a video to her friend showing how dark the BRT bus was, nothing that “there are three men and one woman in the bus. The woman is sitting at the back. That’s the number of the bus in case. Please pray for me”.

That was the last time her friend heard from her.

NAN reported that the victim’s family had a meeting with the Lagos Bus Service Ltd (LBSL) on March 2, and they were assured that efforts were being made to arrest the driver.

LAGOS CP ORDERS STATE CID TO TAKE OVER CASE

Abiodun Alabi, Lagos commissioner of police, has directed that the case should be transferred to the state criminal investigation department, Panti.

“In the course of the ongoing investigation, two suspects have been arrested and are currently helping in our investigation,” the statement reads.

“While assuring that police detectives will continue to work assiduously to find the missing lady and bring her abductors to justice, the command wishes to appeal to anyone with useful information that could help in our investigation to promptly give it to us for further necessary actions.

“Subject who hails from Moba L.G.A. in Ekiti state is about 5 feet plus tall, dark in complexion and speaks Yoruba and English languages well.

“This isolated incident notwithstanding, the police command is committed to protecting lives and properties of all residents of the state at all times.”

PRIMERO: WE DON’T OPERATE CHEVRON/LEKKI ROUTE

The management of Primero Transport Services (PTS) Limited, one of the operators of BRT, said the Chevron/Lekki axis is not part of its route.

In a statement on Saturday, Primero said the bus in question is not owned or operated by the organisation.

“Primero, as a private organisation, is concerned about the safety of all her customers and Lagos commuters in general. We take the safety and security of all commuters on Primero buses as a priority, and as such, this report is a concern to us,” the statement reads.

“However, the alleged routes plied by the bus (Chevron/Lekki) is not operated by Primero Transport Services Limited.

“The alleged bus, identified in the video distributed on social media, is not owned or operated by Primero Transport Services Limited.

“There are several bus operating companies (BOCs) in Lagos state managing ‘blue BRT’ buses. These BOCs are assigned different routes across the state by the regulatory body, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).

“Primero is assigned the Ikorodu to TBS and Oshodi to Abule Egba corridors. Our buses do not operate at Chevron/Lekki/Ajah.”