A fatal accident at Ibeju Bus Stop on the Ibeju Lekki–Epe Expressway claimed six lives and injured nine. LASTMA blames speeding, urges safer driving in Ember Months.
A tragic accident shook residents of Ibeju on Monday morning when a fatal collision occurred at the popular Ibeju Bus Stop along the ever-busy Lekki–Epe Expressway.
The crash claimed six lives on the spot and left nine others battling for survival in various hospitals.
According to eyewitness accounts, the scene was filled with panic and sorrow as first responders raced against time to save as many lives as possible.
Traffic on the expressway was brought to a standstill for several hours as emergency teams cleared the wreckage.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, revealed that the accident involved two vehicles: a white commercial bus with registration number AKD 336 YD, believed to be conveying commuters to Epe, and a blue Volvo FL6 truck heavily loaded with wooden planks.
Preliminary investigations by traffic officers indicated that excessive speeding combined with reckless driving was the primary cause of the crash.
The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus was badly crushed, leading to multiple fatalities.
Among the six victims who lost their lives instantly were two adult men, three adult women, and one child.
Their remains have since been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Epe, where families are expected to identify and claim their loved ones.
On the other hand, nine survivors—three men and six women—sustained varying degrees of injuries.
They were rescued through a combined effort of LASTMA operatives, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials, officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and personnel of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC).
The injured were quickly transported to FMC Epe and Hammond Hospital, where doctors are currently battling to stabilize them.
Miraculously, four other passengers walked away unharmed, though visibly shaken by the harrowing incident.
Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, extended condolences to the families of the deceased while urging motorists to imbibe safer driving habits.
He warned that the culture of overspeeding and impatience remains a major killer on Nigerian highways.
“Speed thrills, but ultimately kills. Drivers must recognize that reckless driving not only risks their lives but also endangers the lives of innocent commuters and other road users,” he stressed.
Mr. Bakare-Oki further dismissed long-standing myths attributing road accidents to spiritual or mystical forces, emphasizing that most crashes are a direct outcome of human recklessness, poor judgment, and lack of discipline behind the wheel.
The LASTMA boss also issued a fresh warning as Nigeria enters the Ember Months—September to December—a period notorious for heightened road traffic accidents due to increased vehicular movement, festive activities, and drivers’ haste to meet financial targets.
He appealed to commercial and private motorists alike to embrace patience, discipline, and defensive driving, particularly at a time when road fatalities are usually at their peak.
While commending the swift collaboration between LASTMA, FRSC, NPF, LNSC, and medical responders, Bakare-Oki reassured Lagos residents that his agency remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard lives and property.
He reiterated LASTMA’s resolve to enforce traffic laws more strictly, deploy personnel strategically across black spots, and intensify public enlightenment campaigns on safe driving.
“This incident is yet another painful reminder that every road user has a role to play in preventing avoidable tragedies.
“Our commitment is to make Lagos roads safer, but we need drivers’ cooperation to achieve this,” he concluded.