The Bamise Ayanwola family has berated Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for ‘dancing on the grave’ of their daughter.

Ms Ayanwola was found dead with body parts mutilated after boarding the state-run Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) last week.

The family through its counsel, Ayo Ademiluyi, in a statement released on Thursday, condemned the governor, who was seen in a viral video dancing a day after Bamishe’s corpse was discovered, while the family and the world was still in shock about her gruesome death. 

They accused the governor and the Lagos State Government of not showing empathy, looking the other way while the family mourns, which they described as a case of vicarious liability.

The statement reads, ‘”while we were searching for Bamishe, It is saddening that when the family reached out to the Special Adviser on Transport to the Commissioner for Transport of Lagos State Government, the laconic answer that they got was that the Lagos State Government has handed over the operations of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) to private operators, to wit, the Lagos Bus Services Limited.

“As innocent as the answer may seem, it totally begs the question of who is the franchisor of Lagos Bus Service Limited. It also begs the question of why the BRT buses ply a specially demarcated lane on both Trunk A and Trunk B Roads in Lagos State.

“It was soon to become clearer that his response is a tip of the iceberg of the lackadaisical response of Lagos State Government. As we write, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu has not deemed it fit to pay a condolence visit to the deceased’s family.

“On March 8, 2022, the day after discovering the corpse of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA, while the world was still in shock about her death, Governor Sanwo-olu was seen dancing at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos.”

The family also condemned the governor’s wife for rolling out drums to celebrate the International Women’s Day without being sensitive to the mood in the state.

“Despite the death of a young Nigerian woman and the revelation of her unfortunate death on the eve of the International Women’s Day, the wife of the Governor , Mrs. Sanwo-olu was still eager to CELEBRATE (?) the International Women’s Day.”

The Nigeria Police was not spared in the message of condemnation as it was also accused of reluctance to swing into action as soon as the case was reported.

“Despite putting forward the viral video evidence produced by the deceased herself and sent to her friend, the family was shabbily treated by various Police Stations they turned to in Lagos State.

“Apart from total absence of forensic investigation facilities in many of these Police Stations, the insensitive attitude of Police officers on duty to the plight of family members of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA portray low morale among rank and file of the Police given poor pay and inexistent working equipment.”

The family further excoriated the Lagos State Bus Service Limited for shabby treatment, insisting that the management has a case to answer on their daughter’s death.

“Despite putting forward a heart rending story of their search for the deceased, they were not only ignored but a team of combat -ready Mobile Policemen were set upon them.

“It was when the corpse of the deceased was discovered that the Managing Director of Lagos Bus Service Limited began to make frantic calls.

“There are innumerous questions for Lagos State Bus Services Limited but some are: Why were the details of the “Relief Driver” who drove the BRT bus not with LBSL?

Why was the particular bus in question kept from public view and plying the roads?

Why was it that it was when the corpse of late BAMISHE AYANWOLA discovered that the operations of BRT shut down in Lagos? Is there priority of profits above the lives of Lagosians?

“We submit that the LAGOS BUS SERVICES LIMITED has a case of CORPORATE LIMITED LIABILITY to answer. We call for the immediate arrest of the Managing Director of LBSL within 24 hours by the Nigerian Police Force.”