Police officers allegedly push driver off Lagos bridge
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Police officers in Lagos are accused of pushing a motorist off the Odo Iya Alaro Link Bridge during an altercation over an alleged Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane violation.
- A video circulating online shows officers arguing with the driver and several other young men on the bridge.
- Efforts to get official comments from the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority and the Ministry of Transportation were unsuccessful.
An incident involving police officers and a motorist on the Odo Iya Alaro Link Bridge in Lagos has sparked outrage, with accusations that officers pushed the driver off the bridge. The alleged assault occurred after the officers stopped the vehicle for purportedly driving in a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane.
All those BRT people who stay at the BRT lane in Maryland have pushed someone from the top of the bridge. This is how they hold motorists all the time and make them withdraw N50,000 or N80,000 as a fine.
A video shared online captures a heated argument between several police officers and a group of young men on the bridge. The footage also shows the alleged victim surrounded by sympathizers. A narrator in the video claims the officers demanded a significant fine, between N50,000 and N100,000, and pushed the man off the bridge when he refused to comply.
The narrator further alleged that such harassment is common at the Odo Iya Alaro Bridge, where officers allegedly stop motorists for BRT lane violations, cause traffic, and detain drivers. The identity of the alleged victim and his current condition remain unverified.
Just because he refused to withdraw money for them, they pushed him off the bridge where everyone else was driving. Look at the person on the ground.
Enforcement of BRT lanes in Lagos is managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). While the state government had temporarily suspended enforcement on certain corridors last year, it resumed in October. Attempts to obtain comments from LAMATA and the Ministry of Transportation were unsuccessful, as officials were unavailable or did not respond to inquiries.
This is how they stand at Odo Iya Alaro Bridge and harass people, claiming they drove on the BRT lane. They cause traffic and detain people. See what has happened now.
Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.