How Bamise Ayanwole was killed after boarding BRT bus was kidnapped – Driver

The driver of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus who picked up the 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, who was found dead on Monday says he was not part of those who murdered her.

The driver was identified as Andrew Nice by Jubril Gawat, an aide to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Bamise Ayanwole, the lady, got missing while returning to Ota from Ajah on Saturday, February 26, after boarding a BRT bus with number plate 240257 going to Oshodi at about 7 p.m. at Chevron Bus-Stop.

Mr Nice gave his account of the incident shortly after he was arrested, in an interview with TVC.

The deceased was the only passenger in the BRT bus before the driver picked some other persons along the road.

Mr Nice said the three male passengers he picked had guns pointed at him while the deceased cried for help.

“I picked her from Chevron, and the other three guys at …when those guys show me his weapon as I was inside, I can’t be myself anymore,” Mr Nice said.

“Fears have come in, so, whatever the man with the gun told me, I do. I followed that Carter Bridge, that overhead bridge, they ordered me to stop there, they say I should open the door, when I open the door, then when they come down, they now start dragging her, when I saw that she was crying for help, actually, I was helpless,” he said in broken English.

Mr Nice said he thought the deceased was still in the vehicle when he drove off because he saw her hold on to the iron in the bus while she was being dragged.

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He said that he ran away and couldn’t report to the police because he was afraid.

Mr Gawat in an update on his Twitter handle on Monday evening, said “We want to reassure the public that the suspect (driver) will be arraigned in court very soon to face justice.”

Mr Gawat said the driver was arrested in Ogun State.

He was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) in the Odogbolu area of the state.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, had said the police also arrested two persons linked to the driver.

“As soon as the report got to the police, the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the lady was immediately initiated,” the police spokesman said.

“To ensure a speedy and diligent investigation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, immediately directed the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti to take over the case.

“In the course of an ongoing investigation, two suspects have been arrested and are currently helping in our investigation.

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“While assuring that police detectives will continue to work assiduously to find the missing lady and bring her abductors to justice, the Command wishes to appeal to anyone with useful information that could help in our investigation to promptly give it to us for further necessary actions.”

According to the police spokesman, preliminary investigation revealed that the victim may have been pushed down from the bus while motioning.

This is even as he stated that efforts are ongoing by the Lagos State Police Command to take over the suspect from the DSS.

Oluwabamise’s body was found along the Carter Bridge by Ogogoro Community and has been deposited in the mortuary.

The young lady went missing on Saturday, February 26, while returning to Ota from Ajah. She boarded a BRT bus with number 240257 going to Oshodi at about 7 p.m. at Chevron Bus-Stop.

Until her death, she worked as a fashion designer at Chevron Estate in Ajah, Lagos, but spent the weekends at Ota, Ogun state, with her sister.

This has resulted in outrage with #JusticeForBamise trending on social media.

Sadly, her body was found dumped by the roadside, and an unidentified man reportedly informed officials of Ebute Ero Police Station on Saturday evening.

The corpse was later taken to the Mainland Hospital mortuary.

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