Andrew Nice Photo The Nation
By Our Reporter
The driver of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Andrew Nice, which was boarded by the murdered 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, has been arrested in Ogun State.
The driver who disappeared after the incident, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) in the Odogbolu area of Ogun state.
The Lagos state police command also confirmed the arrest of the suspect.
“As soon as the report got to the police, investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the lady was immediately initiated,” the police spokesman said.
The driver who was identified by the police as Andrew Nice ran away and later explained that he ran away as he was overwhelmed by the circumstances that led to Bamise’s death.
Nice revealed this in a video clip shared on Monday night by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, on his Twitter handle.
The police further said “To ensure a speedy and diligent investigation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, immediately directed the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti to take over the case.
“In the course of ongoing investigation, two suspects have been arrested and are currently helping in our investigation.
“While assuring that police detectives will continue to work assiduously to find the missing lady and bring her abductors to justice, the Command wishes to appeal to anyone with useful information that could help in our investigation to promptly give it to us for further necessary actions.”
According to the police spokesman, preliminary investigation revealed that the victim may have been pushed down from the bus while in motion.
This is even as he stated that efforts are ongoing by the Lagos State Police Command to take over the suspect from the DSS.
He also confirmed that the police also arrested two persons linked to the driver.
It would be recalled that Bamise went missing after boarding BRT vehicle from Chevron Bus Stop, Ajah to Oshodi around 7pm on February 26.
During the journey, the fashion designer was said to have observed that the driver was not picking up other passengers at subsequent bus stops along the route.
Disturbed, she sent a message and voice notes her friend detailing her predicament. She also told her friend that the driver asked for her name and also showed how dark the bus was. It was the last time her friend and family members heard from her, and she was later declared missing.
On Monday, she was found dead on Carter Bridge, according to the Lagos police command.
“The Lagos state police command regrets to inform the public that Oluwabamise Ayanwole, the 22-year-old lady who got missing in transit while on board a BRT bus on 26/2/2022 has been found dead,” Adekunle Ajisebutu, Lagos police spokesperson, had said.
“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.”
