A commercial motorcyclist has been killed and two others injured after a speeding driver, allegedly fleeing police officers, crashed into three motorcycle riders on Liasu Road in the Idimu area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Saturday night during a police pursuit involving a vehicle suspected of belonging to internet fraudsters, according to a report by The Punch.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Wahab, said the vehicle was being pursued from the Ile-Iwe end of the road towards the Council bus stop when the driver allegedly lost control and struck the motorcycle riders.
He explained that police officers in a minibus had attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly increased speed and drove recklessly in an attempt to escape.
“One of the riders died on the spot, while the driver and other male adults in the vehicle ran out and fled,” the eyewitness said.
The driver and other occupants were said to have abandoned the vehicle at the scene and fled after realising the consequences of the crash.
The abandoned vehicle was subsequently towed to the nearest police station, while the two injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The incident triggered a protest by commercial motorcycle operators plying Powerline and Liasu roads, who suspended operations to demand justice for their deceased colleague.
The protest disrupted transportation in the area on Sunday, leaving several residents stranded as they struggled to find alternative means of getting to their destinations.
A resident, Titi Jayeoba, said the suspension of motorcycle operations affected people travelling to church and other engagements, adding that the available tricycles could not accommodate all commuters.
“We were stranded on Sunday after the okada riders refused to operate. People who depend on motorcycles to get to church and other places were stranded,” she said.
Jayeoba added that some commuters were unable to use tricycles because the operators would not take them into their streets.
Normalcy was later restored after the motorcycle operators resumed operations in the evening. The deceased was also reportedly buried according to Islamic rites.
When contacted on Tuesday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said she was unaware of the incident but promised to provide further information.
As of the time of the report, there was no official confirmation of the driver’s identity or any arrest in connection with the incident.
