A 40-foot container fell off a truck at the Alakija area on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway killing at least seven people and injuring 12 others in an incident described as a Ramadan tragedy.
Reports say the incident happened at around 7:30am when the truck laden with a container rammed into a commercial bus after its brakes failed.
The collision with the commercial bus forced the container on the truck to tip over at Alakija bus stop killing seven people and injuring 12 others in the process.
Reports say some commercial motorcyclists who were stationed at the bus stop were trapped under the falling container including a commercial bus which was crushed with passengers caged in it.
At the scene of the incident, a large crowd of sympathisers gathered as policemen from the FESTAC Police Division, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Lagos State Fire Service were at the scene to rescue survivors of the incident.
According to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, two of the dead victims were commercial motorcyclists.
“The problem here is that motorcycle riders and bus drivers always block a part of the road in their search for passengers. Also, the road is in a bad condition and traffic is always heavy at the bus stop.
“This morning, the truck had wanted to manoeuvre its way when the container on it fell and crushed the passengers in the bus. It also crushed some okada riders at the junction. Many people were trapped under the container.
“Three okada riders died on the spot. Others had broken legs and arms. There was confusion at the bus stop for several hours.” The witness said.
A police source informed that the slow pace of construction at the bus stop contributed greatly to the unfortunate incident.
“Five persons died on the spot. As a result of the failed brakes, the driver lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the minibus. Apart from the five persons who were killed on the spot, several others were trapped under the container. Traffic officials were assisted by some sympathisers, who rushed several injured persons to different hospitals.
“Apart from the deaths and injuries, the container smashed about seven motorcycles and some electric poles in the area.” The police source said.
Mr. Michael Akindele, the General Manager of LASEMA said about three people lost their lives and the those who sustained injuries were responding to treatment.
“Investigations conducted by the agency’s Emergency Response Team at the scene of the incident revealed that the truck lost its brakes and rammed into the minibus. Thereafter, it also fell on okada riders at the bus stop. The agency’s ERT at Cappa, in conjunction with other agencies, was involved in the recovery operation.” He said.
SP Dolapo Badmos, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, who confirmed the incident informed that policemen of the FESTAC Division were on hand to help in evacuation.
“The men of the FESTAC Police Division were on the ground to help in the evacuation. As of 4pm, we had five dead bodies. The identities of the dead are unknown.”
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