KAI arrests man for not using pedestrian bridge

It is an offence in Lagos State to walk across the highway where a pedestrian bridge has been provided.

The leader of Kick Against Indiscipline Brigade, KAI, Oshodi area, Mr. Kadiri Ismail sounded the note of warning today while deciding the fate of a young man who was apprehended by his men for not using the fly-over bridges in Oshodi.

The man in the company of his wife, a boy suspected to be his family member and about 10 other people, had crossed the highway near the fly-over bridges in Oshodi, but the KAI officials apprehended only him.

Reacting to the claim by the young man that he was unaware of such law especially as there was no signpost to that effect, Mr. Ismail said there was no place for ignorance in the law.

According to him, where there is pedestrian bride, people must use it, unless the distance is over 500 meters away from the bridge.

Meanwhile, it was a rowdy scene characterized by exchange of verbal abuse between the KAI officials and the woman whose husband was arrested.

The woman queried the uprightness of the KAI official, Mr. Aladaba Shamsudeen, who she said dragged her husband on his trousers like “a no-body”.

She was also unhappy that Mr. Shamsudeen targeted only her husband, when about 10 others committed the same offense at the same time.  

Some Passers-bye were also not happy with the incident, saying that officials of KAI were fond of targeting  only gentle looking people who they could arrest easily and force them to pay fines, while neglecting supposed poor and fiercely looking people that would  give them trouble.

One of the eyewitnesses said, “is this the change they promised us? Why should a married man be dragged about on his trousers as if he is a thief?”

Asked why he dragged the man on his trousers, Shamsudeen told his boss that he did so, because the offender’s wife pushed him.

“I have to state my own part of the story. His wife pushed me. Why?”

Shamsudeed removed his shirts, trying to begin a fight with a boy who was with the apprehended man.

Correspondents were at the scene up till the time that the KAI official dragged the man to where their Black Maria vehicle was packed, and did not see the woman pushed the officer.

However, other people arrested for various offenses were seen in the Black Maria packed on the side of the junction towards Shogunle.