We Want Justice For Bamise

On February 26th, a 22-year-old budding fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwole, went missing after she boarded a bus in the Chevron area of Lekki, Lagos on her way to Oshodi. She was later found dead today.

She sent her friend, Mercy videos, voice notes, and messages when she was uncomfortable in the vehicle. But then her number stopped working. Her parents called her friends later that night to tell them that she hadn’t returned home yet.

Hi guys please help!!!!!!!!
A friend of mine is missing 😢
She entered a BRT bus from chevron going to Oshodi and since then we haven't heard from her.
She dropped some VN at informing us of her whereabouts, we tried contacting her after and we have not heard from her

— Mercy (I wash wigs) (@Mercy_McQuin) March 2, 2022

After her family and friends made their way to BRT park and reported the case to the police, they learned that the driver of the vehicle no longer lived at the address listed and his phone lines were disconnected.

Earlier today, news broke that Bamise’s lifeless body, with her private parts removed, had been discovered.

According to Jubril Gawat, SSA to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the bus driver has been located and detained. The suspect, he said, fled Lagos for Ogun, a neighbouring state.

FLASH: The driver of the BRT Bus has been arrested. More Details later.

Via Lagos Police Command

— Jubril A. Gawat (@Mr_JAGs) March 7, 2022

Watch the BRT driver recounts how ‘Bamise’ vanished after boarding the bus.

Her distraught friend Mercy, took to Instagram to share her pain: 

Bamise mi,
This wasn't the plan na, you were going to open your shop, you have started saving for your industrial machine, you only wanted to upgrade and explore your new skill. You felt safe in the government hands and yet they stripped you of safety. Bamise I'm sorry 😭😭😭😭😭

— Mercy (I wash wigs) (@Mercy_McQuin) March 7, 2022

Bamise’s mum, Comfort Ayanwole is inconsolable, says her daughter was neither wayward nor promiscuous.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BBC News Pidgin (@bbcnewspidgin)

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Bamise. The perpetrators responsible should be apprehended and justice should be served.