Barely two days after ten lives were lost in a fatal road accident along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, tragedy struck again on Sunday as another crash claimed eight lives in the Badagry area of Lagos State.
The accident, which occurred at Atura Bus Stop, involved a 16-seater commercial Mazda bus with registration number KJA 811 YF and a DAF truck marked T1 4636 LA.
According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), eight passengers, including the driver of the commercial bus and his conductor, died on the spot, while eight others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident, attributing the crash to excessive speeding on the part of the commercial bus driver.
“The tragic accident instantly claimed the lives of eight passengers, including the driver of the ill-fated bus and his conductor, casting a somber pall over the Badagry axis and leaving the community in mourning,” Taofiq said.
He explained that emergency responders, including the Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and Nigerian Army, arrived swiftly at the scene to rescue the surviving passengers.
“Eight other passengers were successfully extracted from the wreckage, all of whom sustained varying degrees of trauma and were rushed to the General Hospital in Badagry for urgent medical attention,” he added.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the driver of the commercial bus lost control while navigating at high speed, resulting in a catastrophic collision with the DAF truck.
Reacting to the incident, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the scene, sympathised with the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“This painful incident is a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for all road users to exercise caution. No journey should end in such tragedy. May the Almighty grant the deceased eternal rest and console those left behind,” he stated.
Bakare-Oki also cautioned commercial drivers and heavy-duty vehicle operators against excessive speeding, urging strict adherence to safety protocols and regular vehicle maintenance to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
