Governor of Lagos, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has described Friday’s action by soldiers of the Nigerian Army, who went on rampage destroying BRT vehicles in sight over the alleged killing of one of their colleagues, as very disappointing.
A BRT vehicle had allegedly run down and killed an army corporal on his motorcycle yesterday around the Obanikoro area of the state. The action reportedly led angry soldiers to unleash mayhem by vandalizing and set BRT vehicles ablaze.
The army authorities have since denied the involvement of soldiers in the ugly incident, blaming the violence on miscreants, who took advantage of the situation to destroy the state-managed buses.
But speaking with Channels TV on Friday evening, Governor Fashola, who could not hide his disappointment, stated that soldiers, as public servants, paid with tax-payers money, should not behave in such a manner even as he said he was still awaiting a formal report on what actually transpired.
He said: “I spoke with the Brigadier General who said he was managing and controlling the situation. Nothing I have yet is verified. I am waiting for a formal report before we then can ventilate a position”.
He suggested that the soldier, who was allegedly knocked down, might have been riding his motorcycle on the BRT lane, which in itself, was an unlawful act.
“There is allegation that somebody who was not supposed to be on the BRT route was on the BRT route. As far as I know, if something happens to you while you are conducting an unlawful act, it’s a criminal offense in its own sense”, Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, explained.
He added that “It’s really disappointing to put it mildly, that public servants, and that is what soldiers are, paid with tax payers money, will act in a manner that is being suggested here and I say this ‘being suggested’, because I am waiting for official report to let me know really, who played what role? What happened? Whether or not even the brigade commander has been able to identify the people who were involved…
“But if it turns out to be true, it would be a very very (emphasis not ours) irresponsible conduct to put it very mildly”, he said.
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