Police Accused of Pushing Driver Off Lagos Bridge

Police officers attached to the Odo Iya Alaro Link Bridge in the Maryland area of Lagos have been accused of pushing a motorist off the bridge during an altercation regarding an alleged violation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane. The incident reportedly occurred after the officers flagged down the vehicle for the violation, leading to a heated argument over the penalty.

A video shared on Facebook captured the confrontation, showing police officers arguing with several young men on the bridge. The alleged victim was reportedly pushed off the bridge after refusing to pay a fine, which was claimed to be between N50,000 and N100,000.

The identity of the victim and his condition remain unverified. BRT lane enforcement in Lagos is managed by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) under the Ministry of Transportation.

In July 2022, the Lagos State Government temporarily suspended BRT lane enforcement in the area due to traffic congestion, but enforcement resumed in October 2022. Efforts to obtain comments from LAMATA and the Ministry of Transportation were unsuccessful.