Tension as LAGBUS Driver Crush Soldier

Chief of Army Staff

A yet-to-be identified soldier was Monday crushed to death by a LAGBUS at Alaka-Costain area of Surulere, Lagos,  leaving the deceased's passenger critically injured.

It was gathered that the deceased who was riding a commercial motorcyclist with  a female passenger behind him, was caught between the LAGBUS and the railings of the bridge.

Some of the eyewitness who spoke said the yet-to-be identified driver of the LAGBUS, one of many buses in the mass transit scheme of the state, had  lost control and hit the soldier and his passenger.

It was gathered that the driver who was allegedly on top speed, had lost control at a very bad spot of the bridge where they were potholes in one of the suspension gaps on the bridge.

Eyewitness account said the driver had seen the spot at the very last minute and when he tried to swerve, crushed the soldier to the kerb, dragging and brushing his body on the ground till the bus stopped.

As at press time, efforts to confirm the whereabouts of the LAGBUS driver who immediately fled the scene of the incident, proved abortive.

When contacted, the Deputy Director Army Public Relations Officer, 81 Division Army Headquarters, Colonel Kingsley Umoh confirmed the incident.

He said, "It is true the incident happened but we cannot release the identity of the deceased. Again, we are still in talks so we don't have available all the answers to your questions.

"I cannot readily tell you if the driver of the LAGBUS has been arrested or the position of the company on the matter but be rest assured we will get back to you when everything is finalised."

When intimated on claims that soldiers from the Abati and Signal Corps Barracks at both Apapa and Ojuelegba respectively are gearing to retaliate the death of their colleague, Umoh debunked such claims.