- Safiu Kehinde
A group of Lagos residents under the aegis of Citizens Intervention for Collective Humanity (CICH) has erected a “Do Not Enter” traffic sign along a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane at Supa Bus-Stop, Abule-Egba, to prevent alleged extortion of unsuspecting commuters by officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigerian Police Force.
The residents, in a video shared online on Thursday, recounted how a portion of the road, which used to be Federal road, was converted to BRT lane without any traffic signs cautioning commuters.
According to one of the residents simply identified as Segun O’law, the lane has been allegedly converted to a trap by Police officers, who lay ambush at a distance awaiting any driver that fall victim of the trap.
“This is Supa Bus-Stop as you’re descending from Abule Egba. You know there is a BRT lane here. This is a Federal road apparently, but then the state has put a BRT lane on it.
“As a result, you will notice that if you entre here, some police officers are waiting ahead. We call them Ganusi like Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde said.
“Because the government will not do it, so we will do it for ourselves. This is “Do Not Enter” and we are encouraging everyone wherever you are, let’s look out for ourselves,” he said.
While hoping that traffic sign made of flex and wood does not get pulled down, he urged others to replicate it in their areas, stressing that the government has turned themselves to citizens’ opponent.
“We will put this one here. Let’s us hope they won’t remove it. Instead, we hope they will make it better. We made this with flex and wooden frame.
“So if you are coming to Abule-Egba, do not enter this lane. The Police are waiting ahead to extort you. You can copy this and do it in your own area too.
“Government has constituted themselves as opponent to us, so we should look out for ourselves now,” he added.
Another member of the group disclosed how the Police officers allegedly use a commercial mini bus to deceive drivers in entering the lane and arrest them.
He also disclosed how drivers arrested are charged up to N300,000 fine.
“Policemen have really extorted motorists here. What they do many a time is this. They we use a mini bus, the one we know as Korope, they will drive past BRT lane. So people that are driving will follow the bus.
“Once they get to edge where they will turn, they will just mount, they will circle the car. Before you know it, they will drive the car towards a certain spot where they will extort drivers.
“They also have another spot at Pleasure bus stop where they charge as much as N300,000.” He said.
He faulted the absence of traffic sign at caution commuters, leaving them at the mercy of the Police officers when arrested.
“You don’t have any sign to tell people it is a wrong route. Remember this is a Federal road. Anything of such from the state government should come with a notice of “Do Not Enter” or “BRT Only” except on emergency.
“In saner climes, there are signs. We obey signs. When we go to learn driving as well there are signs. So if the signs are not there, why learn them?
“So I believe with this, citizens will have reason not to enter.” He said.
He also expressed concern over the possibility of the sign getting removed by Police officers or some of the area boys used by the officers.