Two people, including a police officer, died in a Lagos truck accident at Ijora Causeway, sparking anger and calls for stricter safety enforcement.
A deadly Lagos truck accident at Ijora Causeway has left two people dead and two others seriously injured, once again exposing the dangers of container-laden vehicles on Lagos roads.
The tragedy has sparked outrage among residents and renewed calls for stronger traffic safety enforcement.
The accident happened beneath the busy Ijora Bridge, inward Ijora 7Up, when a 40-foot container truck, registered XP 368 AKD, lost control while making a sharp manoeuvre.
The heavy vehicle overturned and landed directly on a commercial tricycle (Keke Napep), marked KJA 364 QN, carrying four passengers.
Witnesses said the impact was devastating. “We heard a loud crash and rushed to the scene.
“The tricycle was completely flattened. People were screaming and trying to pull the victims out,” recounted one roadside trader.
Sadly, two passengers—a serving police officer and a female commuter—were crushed to death instantly.
The tricycle operator and another passenger sustained serious leg injuries and were rushed to hospital.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the Lagos truck accident in a statement issued by its Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq.
According to him, “preliminary findings showed that the articulated truck lost control while attempting a dangerous manoeuvre, which caused the container to fall on the tricycle.
“Two lives were lost instantly while two survivors were rescued with serious injuries.”
Emergency responders from LASTMA, the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), and police operatives worked together to rescue the injured and transport them to Jimsan Hospital, Gasikiya, Ijora.
The late police officer’s body was taken to the Yaba mortuary, while the grieving relatives of the female victim insisted on retrieving her remains at the scene.
Their cries drew sympathy from onlookers, many of whom expressed anger at the endless carnage caused by container trucks.
As tension rose, some residents attempted to set the truck ablaze. However, security operatives from Badia, Trinity, and Kirikiri police divisions intervened swiftly to disperse the crowd and prevent mob action.
This latest Lagos truck accident is not an isolated incident. In recent years, container-laden vehicles have caused multiple fatalities across the city, particularly along busy corridors near ports such as Apapa and Ijora.
Experts have long warned that many of these trucks are poorly maintained and driven by operators with little training in handling such heavy loads in crowded urban environments.
The Ijora axis remains one of the deadliest due to high truck traffic from the ports and chronic road congestion.
In the wake of the Ijora tragedy, safety advocates have urged the government to take urgent steps to protect commuters. Key demands include:
Restricting movement of container trucks to off-peak hours.
Stricter roadworthiness checks to eliminate unfit vehicles.
Mandatory training and certification for truck drivers.
Use of escort vehicles for container trucks navigating busy areas.
Completion of alternative port access roads to decongest Ijora and Apapa.
Road safety consultant, Engr. Kunle Adedoyin, described the incident as “a preventable disaster.”
He warned that without decisive government action, more lives would be lost.
“Container trucks should not share the same space with commuters during peak traffic hours.
“The government must step up enforcement of safety rules immediately,” he said.
Another analyst, Mrs. Yemisi Adebanjo, emphasized driver behavior: “Many truck drivers are fatigued, untrained, and operate without discipline.
“Until proper monitoring and retraining are prioritized, Lagosians remain at risk.”
For families of the victims, the accident was not just a statistic but a devastating personal loss. The police officer, who left home for duty, never returned.
The female commuter’s family left the scene heartbroken, clutching her remains. Survivors, meanwhile, continue to battle for their lives in hospital.
A resident, Mr. Seyi Alabi, who witnessed the rescue, lamented: “We keep losing innocent lives every year because of these container trucks. Government needs to wake up. How many more people must die?”
The Ijora Lagos truck accident is a grim reminder of the urgent need to overhaul heavy-duty vehicle operations in Nigeria’s commercial hub.
For too long, container trucks have been ticking time bombs on Lagos roads, claiming lives in preventable crashes.
Until stricter enforcement, better infrastructure, and safer driver practices are put in place, tragedies like this will continue to haunt residents.
Families of the victims now hope their painful loss will finally trigger the decisive action Lagos has long needed.
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