Commuters groan as drivers protest against police taskforce

Juliana Francis and Kafayat Olalekan

Hundreds of commuters residing at Ikotun, Iyano-Oba, Iyana-Ipaja, Egbeda and other axis in Lagos State, complained bitterly as they trekked to their various places of work and destinations .

Eyewitnesses claimed that the commercial drivers were protesting the killing of their member by a member of the Lagos State Environmental and Enforcement and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce).

The Unit’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Moliki, denied that anyone was killed. It was gathered that trouble started on Monday.

Yesterday morning, schoolchildren and teachers, who were supposed to go for summer coaching classes returned home due to lack of buses.

Similarly, many people were sighted trekking, while private vehicle owners seized the opportunity to make quick money by picking passengers.

The severe toll on commuters has also found its way into the social media as people discussed their experience at length.

According to Mr. Mac Henry, who took to his twitter handle, @iammachenry, “Commercial buses are scarce at Iyana Ipaja, Igando, Ikotun, Iyana-Iba and other places. Plan your journey well if you intend going via commercial buses. Rumor says taskforce killed three drivers.”

While urging residents living around this vicinity to plan their movement carefully, Seunfunmi Akinola Dr. @seunakinola, noted: “If you don't have a car today, and you are passing through the Iyana-Ipaja, Egbeda, Igando and Ikotun routes, you’ll suffer in the traffic today. I'm at work now and we hustle again in the afternoon.”

Another twitter user, Mami Chula @avosuasi, said: “This is Egbeda Roundabout this morning; no bus. A lot of people on the road. I asked a few people what happened and I was told taskforce policemen killed a bus driver at Iyana-Ipaja yesterday at about 9:13 pm and then another driver this morning.”

Maliki explained that operatives from their unit went on enforcement duty, and when they got to Ikeja Along, a faulty commercial bus was sighted parked on the roadside, and a mechanic was working on it. It was further noticed that another commercial bus was also parked close to the faulty bus.

Maliki said: “Immediately the driver of the faulty commercial bus sighted the anti-one way policemen, he rushed out, attempting to flee. In the process, he hit the mechanic, who was working on the faulty commercial bus. The mechanic was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. The mechanic was taken to the hospital by our men. When his family members were contacted, they said it was a minor injury, that he should be discharged. The other drivers thought the mechanic was dead, which was why they embarked on a protest.”

The chairman of the police taskforce, a Chief Superintendent of Police, (CSP), Mr. Shola Jejeloye, emphasized that there was no truth in the news that Lagos State Taskforce killed a driver and its conductor. He revealed that he has been meeting with key stakeholders in the axis to ensure that commuters were not made to go through harrowing experiences as a result of the protest.