The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwole, the 22-year-old lady who got missing inside a Lagos Bus Rapid Transit.
The police, in a statement, on Monday, explained that Ayanwole ‘s dead body was found lying on the Carter Bridge by Ogogoro Community, Lagos, Lagos Island.
The Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, noted that her corpse has been deposited at the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.
"Notwithstanding the death of Oluwabamise, the detectives handling the case would not rest on their oars until her killers are found.
“We, therefore, assure the concerned public and the bereaved family that we are closing on the culprits and we are sure that soon the suspects would be arrested and made to face justice for this murderous act.
“While soliciting the cooperation of all and sundry, we once again appeal to anyone with additional information that could help the police in arresting the suspects to kindly oblige us. Such information, we assure you, will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
“The Command is ever determined and committed to the protection of lives and properties of residents in the state; and has strengthened its security apparatus to prevent a recurrence of this ugly, disturbing incident.”
The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command regrets to inform the public that Oluwabamise Ayanwole, the 22-year-old lady who got missing in transit while onboard a BRT bus on February 26, 20222 has been found dead.
“The corpse was found lying on the Carter Bridge by Ogogoro Community, Lagos Lagos Island. The corpse has been deposited at the morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.
“The bereaved family has been contacted and family members have identified the corpse as that of Oluwabamise Ayanwole, the lady earlier declared missing.
“The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, is saddened by this incident and, therefore, expresses, on behalf of the management, officers and men of the command, his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family.
The young lady went missing on February 26, 2022, after she boarded a BRT with number 240257 heading to Oshodi at about 7:30 pm to see her sister-in-law, who was said to be in labour.
The fashion designer was said to have become suspicious when the driver of the bus told her to sit at the back despite being the only one in the vehicle.
“When she entered the BRT bus, it was only her, and there was no light inside the bus. She had felt safe inside the BRT since it is a popular state bus, but she wondered why it was only her that was in the bus and the driver didn’t pick any other passenger.
“She was even conversing with a colleague of hers because she felt unsafe. She was sending voice notes to her friend. Her friend advised her to drop since the driver didn’t pick up any other passenger.
“Before entering, she informed her friend that the driver was passing some remarks at her but she didn’t answer.
“So later on, the driver later picked up three people on the road: two men and a lady. Then she now felt calm.
“Before the driver picked the three other persons who had disguised as passengers, she made several videos of the bus and the driver and sent it to her friend. The video captured the bus number. It helped us in tracking the bus.
“Her phone was not ‘low’. It is a new phone she just bought three weeks ago. Her friend chatted with her several times, but she didn’t reply.
“She tried calling her via normal call a few minutes to 8 pm, but she didn’t pick up.
“Around 7:32 pm, she posted ‘God, it is your protection I need’ on her WhatsApp status.
“I saw the status but I didn’t see it on time because I was not online.
“After repeated calls, her friend said she heard some voices underneath trying to struggle to get the phone from her,” sister of the victim, Elizabeth, revealed.
