THE seeming 'attack' on commercial bus drivers in the early hours of Tuesday, November 15, 2022, took its toll on commuters who were left stranded, following the seizure of the buses they boarded by the Lagos State Task Force members and their accomplices along the LASU-Igando road.
Recall that Alimoshotoday had exclusively reported how commercial bus drivers came under 'attack' by members of the Lagos State Task Force and their accomplices.
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From the information gathered and eyewitness accounts, the bus driver's offence was parking wrongly. It was also observed that all who had their vehicles seized did not have conductors, which meant their door was left open as they moved along the road.
The passengers, who had just paid their fares, heading to Igando, General, Isheri, Egbeda, up to Iyana-Ipaja were refused from taking their balance, as the now hijacked bus offloaded everyone on board at Igando, irrespective of wherever they were headed.
Since most commuters had the buses they boarded seized and drivers carted away by the Task Force, they were all left stranded at Igando. The crowd was so much that they took a good portion of the road, standing to wait for available buses.
The passenger who neither received their balance (complete or partial) nor a refund of fares already paid were in pain and some had to trek to their destinations.
Those who were left standing were heading towards Lanre, Odo Eran, Powerline, Isheri, Egbeda, up to Iyana-Ipaja. As such, they couldn't trek but had to look for a way.
Buses came and hiked their fares with some charging up to #250 to Egbeda from the NYSC bus stop, a fare that is normally #150. This further worsened the pains of commuters, as they had to stand for long periods of time.
Recall that it was for this same reason that the Joint Drivers' Welfare Association of Nigeria (JDWAN) embarked on a 7-day strike a few weeks back.
The group demanded an end to the continued harassment of drivers by law enforcement agents, adding that intimidation with guns, cutlasses, and broken bottles by LASTMA, task force, and RRS must end immediately.
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They further demanded that the Lagos State Government provide official bus stops in each community to avoid incessant arrests and stress for commuters who complain of having to trek several kilometres back to their bus stops.
