BRT Not Responsible for Death of Street Hawker – LASG

The Lagos State government on Wednesday reacted to what it termed the misconception surrounding the killing of a street hawker by an oncoming truck at Maryland Bus Stop. The state government spoke through its Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, who explained that the street hawker, who was trying to evade arrest from the officials of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), had attempted to cross the road before being hit by the truck, which was erroneously thought to be a BRT Bus. According to Ayorinde, “As a result, hoodlums armed with sticks and stones, immediately descended on some BRT buses plying the route as at the time of the incident and in the process destroyed several of the BRT buses. “It wasn’t any of our buses that killed him (hawker), it was a soft drink company truck that unfortunately crushed the boy while he was trying to escape from KAI officers who were on patrol trying to rid the street of street hawkers and traders. “But hoodlums now took advantage of that to start destroying government assets, including several of the brand new BRT buses. “It took the intervention of a team from the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) to quell the riotous scene caused by the hoodlums before the corpse of the boy was taken to the morgue at the General Hospital, Ikeja. “The Lagos State Government would like to use this opportunity to further reiterate that it would not relent in ridding the state of illegality, street trading and hawking.” The commissioner explained that Section one of the Lagos State Street Trading and Illegal Market Prohibition Law 2003, restricts street trading and hawking in the metropolis, while Sections Seven and Eight of the same law gives jurisdiction and power to the Special Court to order the seizure and public auction of items impounded from street traders. He said, “Section 10 of the law also prescribes a N5000 fine or three months imprisonment upon conviction. “Street traders are hereby urged to desist from this illegal activity because the government will not be blackmailed and would do that which is necessary. “And for the miscreants and hoodlums, the Lagos State Government and the Police Command would not allow any act of civil disobedience and those arrested would be dealt with in accordance with the law and further arrests would be made as the investigation continues.”