IKEJA—General Manager of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Mr. Babatunde Edu, has explained how the agency recovered the abandoned vehicle of the missing popular television presenter, Alhaji Rasak Gawat, who was declared missing since last Wednesday.
He said a black colour four-runner Toyota SUV with number-plate RE 77 AAA was discovered on Eko Bridge inward Apongbon at 11:45p.m. on Tuesday by LASTMA officials led by the Zonal Head, Mr. Akinpelu Ayuba, while conducting safety checks on the bridge.
The vehicle was parked close to the kerb with no sign of accident except that the hazard light of the vehicle was on and the four doors locked.
According to Edu: “Our officials, thinking that the unknown occupant (s) had ran out of fuel and had gone to source for same or in dire need of assistance, and to ensure the safety of the occupant (s) and also render assistance if need be, formed a search group to look out for the owner of the vehicle.”
Edu said the search went on for over an hour with no trace of the owner.To guide against stealing of the vehicle and to ensure that in-coming vehicles and other road-users did not run into the vehicle, the black jeep was towed away in the early hour of Wednesday to the Olowu Zone of the agency’s office in Lagos Island.
Investigation still on – Police
Six days into the mysterious disappearance of Gawat, the Lagos State Police Command said it was still investigating the case.
Although there was news, weekend, that Gawat was found in Ibadan, a development that threw family members, staff of Nigerian Television Authority, NTA, and well-wishers into wild jubilation.
Their joy was short-lived after several calls to the Oyo State Police Command revealed that it was mere rumour. At the Dolphin Estate, Adeniji-Adele Phase 2, Lagos Island, abode of Gawat, members of his family wore long faces, unsure of what would have happened to their bread winner.
There are, however, fears that Gawat’s life could be in danger. While some concluded he could have been abducted, others ruled out that possibility, positing that there could have been calls from his abductors demanding ransom.
The Lagos State Police Command, maintained, yesterday, that the case was that of a missing person and not kidnap.
Investigation so far, according to police sources, showed that there was no sign of struggle where his vehicle was found at Apongbon end of Eko Bridge. The car, sources said, was neatly parked.
“From the way it was parked, it did not suggest it was intercepted, except that the hazard lights were on, with his Identity card on the front seat.”
Sources also informed that when his phone was dialed as at Friday, it rang without response.
Spokesman for the command, Ngozi Braide, said policemen, were not resting on the incident. Although she declined comments on how far investigation had gone, she assured that the command would make headway soon.
Meantime, Lagos State chapter of National Council of Muslim Youths Organisation,NACOMYO, has appealed for his release by whosoever kept him.
At a briefing in Lagos, NACOMYO decried the inability of the police to give a clue on the fate of the broadcaster, who was a former state coordinator of NACOMYO since last Tuesday when he was declared missing.
News credit: Vanguard
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