close
Wednesday, March 9, 2022

Murdered BRT passenger: Relatives, sympathisers warn against police cover-up

The relatives are demanding that the BRT driver, Nice Andrew Omininikoron, and other culprits be made to face the law.

• March 8, 2022
Relatives, sympathisers of Oluabamise Ayanwola
Relatives, sympathisers of Oluabamise Ayanwola

Comfort Ayanwola, mother of 22-year-old Oluabamise Ayanwola, allegedly murdered by a Lagos BRT driver and some unknown accomplices, has demanded for justice.

Worried that the case might be truncated, the parents of late Ms Ayanwola are demanding that the driver, Nice Andrew Omininikoron, and other culprits be brought to book.

On Tuesday, the deceased’s mother addressed journalists at her residence in the Ayobo area of Iyana Ipaja in Lagos, demanding justice from both Ekiti and Lagos state.

“I want a truthful judgment. I don’t want justice to be compromised by any authority. I am from Ekiti state. I am pleading that Ekiti state assists the Lagos state government.

Narrating what transpired, the 75-year-old mother of ten children, said the late Ayanwola was her last born child until her gruesome murder.

The mother said that when she and other family members went to the BRT terminal in search of her daughter, the bus driver ran off on discovering who they were.

“Once he noticed that we were around, he ran off. His colleagues called him several times and he said he was coming. After some time, he switched off his phone.

She said the driver lied when he said he was held at gunpoint and the deceased dragged down from the bus by some people. She said she wants a proper investigation.

“I heard of his arrest in the news this morning. All that he said in the interview are lies. He abducted my daughter, and I want the government to investigate the matter truthfully.

“I believe this is not their first time; that was why they were exposed. The driver said he is innocent, but he refused to report to the police or his employers.

“I want justice. I want the culprits to face the wrath of the law; they should judge the matter truthfully with the fear of God,” the distraught mother told reporters.

Also, the elder brother of the deceased, Oluwapelumi Ayanwola, said his late sister told her friend that she was coming to his house on a surprise the day she was murdered.

Narrating what happened on the day she was abducted, he accused police officers of negligence when he reported the case of his missing sister at the police station.

He said his family deserves justice for his sister’s death in a government owned-bus.

Mr Ayanwola said the family was not informed about his sister’s corpse on Sunday but instead, she was deposited at the morgue on Monday by government officials.

“The body of Bamise was discovered on Sunday, and then taken to a morgue by a police officer at Ebute-Ero. They took the corpse to deposit in a morgue; this was after we had reported the case to a police station.

“We didn’t find her body through the police. It was through social media. We discovered that her body part was missing,” the brother narrated.

Peoples Gazette had earlier reported that Ms Ayanwola went missing for days after boarding a BRT, and was found dead at the Carter Bridge at Ogogoro Community, Lagos, with her body mutilated.

The bus driver, Mr Omininikoron, suspected of kidnapping the victim, along with other culprits, was arrested on Monday.

The driver was arrested at his hiding place at Ososa, Ogun state, by officials of the State Security Service. He later claimed not to have abducted and murdered the girl.

Meanwhile, the governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has promised the Ayanwonla family that they will get the justice that they deserve.

More from Peoples Gazette

Economy

Buhari regime will continue to borrow without subsidy removal: Femi Adesina

“You know how much could have been saved if the subsidy was removed and how it could have been diverted to other areas and spheres of national life.

Faith

JUST IN: Joseph Egbunike, police DIG in charge of FCIID, is dead

Police officers have gathered at Mr Egbunike’s official residence in Maitama in preparation for his burial, The Gazette understands.

David Umahi, Stanley Okoro-Emegha, and Kelechi Igwe

Politics

Ebonyi APC rejects court judgement sacking Gov. Umahi, deputy

“The judgement was clearly biased and it’s unacceptable…and will surely be appealed.”

ECOWAS court

Africa

ECOWAS court advocates 50% women inclusion in politics, economy

The court says a 50 per cent affirmative action on gender parity will give women an equal playing field with the male folk.

Gov Douye Diri

States

Bayelsa: Royal father praises Gov. Diri for completing Nembe ‘unity bridge’

The bridge is reported to have been under construction for more than 10 years.

NSCDC officers

Jos

NSCDC arrests illegal petrol marketers, confiscate 5,580 litres of fuel in Jos

The corps said the activities of illegal petrol marketers had further created artificial fuel scarcity.

McDonald

World

Putin’s War: McDonald’s shuts down outlets across Russia

Announcing the shut down on Tuesday, CEO Chris Kempczinski cited the “unspeakable suffering to innocent people” in Ukraine.