Bamise Promised Me Birthday Dress Days Before Her Murder -Mother
The parents of Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who was kidnapped on Feb. 26 in a Lagos Bus Rapid Transit bus and later found dead said that all the family wanted was justice.
Mr Joseph Ayanwols and Mrs Comfort Ayanwola, the parents of the late 22-year-old fashion designer, Miss Oluwabamise Ayanwola, made the request at their residence in the Olorunishola area of Ipaja-Ayobo, Lagos State, on Wednesday.
They also said the deceased was the last born of the 10 children they gave birth to, adding that nothing could replace their daughter – but they only wanted justice done.
Mrs Comfort Ayanwola, 72-year-old mother of the deceased said that her daughter had promised to sow a birthday dress for her but death had snatched her away.
“I celebrated my birthday some days ago, my daughter promised to give me a new dress as my birthday gift but the evil people had killed her.
“She boarded a luxury bus belonging to the government and that was her end.
“The police and the government should be truthful in their investigation and judgment so that the outcome will serve as a deterrent to others who are still in the business of ritual killing.
“I believe they have been using the BRT services to commit this atrocity for long but God used our daughter to expose them by capturing the number of the bus used to carry out this particular atrocity.
“Is it that the BRT services are no longer safe to transit passengers? Government should not try to cover up for the driver, he should be exposed.
“We work hard and struggle to survive. We are content with what we have,” she said.
She said that the verbal-note evidence her daughter sent to her friend before she was allegedly murdered should be enough evidence for the government to prosecute the driver.
“The evidence which had gone viral should be enough evidence for the prosecution of the suspect.
“The driver is now lying that kidnappers pointed a gun at him and dragged our daughter out of the BRT bus he was driving and was in transit then.
“Kidnappers pointed a gun at him, dragged his passenger out from the bus in transit and he did not go to the police station to report the matter, it is a lie.”
On Tuesday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State had assured the residents that justice would be served in the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
Sanwo-Olu gave the assurance in a statement where he also said that the “life of every resident’’ of the state mattered to him and would not be taken for granted.
He vowed that his administration would “leave no stone unturned’’ in the investigations and arrest of everyone found culpable in the kidnap and death of Ayanwola.
According to him, the driver of the BRT bus involved in the unfortunate incident had been arrested.
“The management of Lagos Bus Service Ltd. has been directed to cooperate fully with security agencies in their investigations so that the full weight of the law is brought down on everyone involved in this ugly incident.
“To Oluwabamise’s family and loved ones, my thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. May the Almighty God console you. I hereby give you my word that `justice will be served,’’ the governor said.
The police spokesperson in Lagos, Mr Adekunle Ajisebutu, later confirmed the death of the 22-year-old lady in a statement.
“The Police Command in Lagos State regrets to inform the public that Oluwabamise Ayanwola, the 22-year-old lady who got missing in transit while onboard a BRT bus on February 26, 2022, has been found dead,’’ the statement said.
The Police in Lagos also confirmed the arrest of a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice, in connection with the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Monday.
Ajisebutu said that the suspect was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and had been handed over to the police.
He reassured the public that the suspect (driver) would soon be arraigned in court.
“The suspect will be made to face justice for this murderous act,” he stated.
