By Ebele Orakpo

What kind of wickedness is this? What did the conductor do to them?” asked Chris, a commuter in the Apapa-bound commuter bus this Monday morning as two Area boys descended on the bus conductor, hitting him with rods and sticks. “He did not do anything to them,” replied Joe. “So they just decided to beat him up? He must have refused to pay them,” said Akin.

“Didn’t you see when he gave one of them N100 note and he ran away with it without giving the conductor the balance?” asked TJ. At this point, the conductor was struggling with them, asking to be given his N50 balance while more area boys had come to join in the fight.

The driver and some passengers had to step in to save the situation. “But what is wrong with this conductor? He wants to die because of N50.00 change? They will just kill him as they have killed many others,” said Akin.

Said Chris: “These guys are criminals! Do we really have a government in Lagos State? Why do they allow this sort of thing to go on unchecked?” Replied TJ: It seems you are new here.

This is a normal thing here. The boys are Lagos State Government boys. As you see them, they make returns to some people in authority.” “This is a jungle. But where are the law enforcement agents?” asked Chris.

“These ones are a law unto themselves. Besides, they collect money for the Police too; so they are fully empowered,” said Akin. “My problem with our people is misplaced priorities. Is this daylight robbery and terrorism not enough for them to down tools and take to the streets to protest?” asked Chris. “Down tools you say? It’s not possible because many depend on these daily earnings; so any day they don’t work, they starve,” said Stella.

Replied Chris: “That is because we lack discipline. Sometimes, you have to go through pains to get what you want. Otherwise, you keep going round and round in a circle.” “Exactly! That is why our politicians manipulate us and pull the wool over our eyes as often as they wish and we clap for them,” said Joe. As the discussion was going on, commuters witnessed another episode with another conductor and another group of area boys.

The boys had placed a big log across the road. The conductor gave them N200 and waited for the balance which was not forth coming as the area boys turned to leave. As the conductor opened his mouth to demand for N100 balance, an area boy threatened to burst his head with the rod he was holding. This conductor was not having any of that so he held the area boy by his trousers.

Before one could say Jack Robinson, other area boys had gathered round the conductor, ready to beat him up. The driver and other commuters had to intervene. “Something should be done urgently to stop this barbarism. This is a case of monkey dey work, baboon dey chop. It’s unfair! They give some of the money to their ogas at the top and use the rest to do drugs, drink and womanise. They are so vicious that some conductors and drivers have been murdered in the process of extorting money from them,” said Akin. “God save us ooo,” prayed Stella.