14 Lagos schoolchildren feared crushed by truck

Juliana Francis

Governor of Lagos State Babajide Sanwo-Olu

At least 14 schoolchildren were believed to have been killed yesterday after an articulated truck lost control at the Grammar School Bus stop along Ogunnusi road, Ojodu Berger, Lagos State.

According to eyewitnesses account, the truck rammed into 18 students who were heading home after school hours and 14 of them were alleged to have died on the spot. The truck driver was coming from the Berger direction, heading to Ogba, when he rammed into the students.

Hysterical mothers were said to have besieged the accident, with many frantically calling and looking for their children. At the scene of the accident, tissues of brains and bones were sighted, with blood flowing.

It was alleged that the truck driver rammed into the children while speeding to evade arrest by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who were pursuing him. The incident occurred about past 2: pm, moments after schools had closed for the day.

The FRSC, Public Education Officer, Route Commander, Olabisi Sonusi, said that seven victims were taken to the Lagos State Emergency Centre, Ojota by FRSC officials, while another seven were taken to the same venue by a sympathiser.

Immediately the driver realised he had rammed into the children, rather than halt, he continued on his journey, allegedly attempting to escape. He was chased, caught and handed over to the police.

An angry mob demanded that the police should hand the driver over to them, but the refusal of the police caused them to become violent. The mob embarked on a violent protest and destruction of parked vehicles, including trucks and FRSC’s operational vehicle.

When the police noticed that the violence was escalating, they fired canisters of tear gas into the mob, thereby dispersing them. The mayhem caused a gridlock and many commuters were compelled to trek to their various destinations.

An eyewitness, who introduced himself simply as Tope, said: “The driver bolted and was pursued to the Excellence Hotel axis of Ogba, where he was forced to halt by the traffic light. It was at that point that he was caught and handed over to the police. I didn’t know that such a tragic accident happened until I saw many students crying. I had to ask one of them what happened; the girl I asked said that 18 of their colleagues were hit by a truck and 15 died on the spot.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu revealed that the erring driver has been arrested and now in police custody.

He said: “About eight injured victims have been taken to the hospital for medical treatment. The details about the number of deaths are still sketchy.  Some students in reaction to the incident attacked the Ojodu Police Station, attempting to carry out jungle justice on the arrested suspect. In the process, the rampaging students destroyed some vehicles parked at the police station. The violent students and hoodlums who joined them were dispersed professionally. However, normalcy has been restored. Investigation into the accident has since commenced.”

The FRSC has however denied its officials’ involvement in the accident, describing the news circulating on social media on the corps complicity as “disgruntled information.”

Sonusi added: “The men of FRSC were called upon by passerby to help intervene after the crash had happened. About seven of the victims were rescued and immediately taken to Lagos State Emergency Centre Ojota by FRSC personnel, while another road user helped in carrying another seven also to the same emergency centre. The general public should disregard the disgruntled information being circulated by some unscrupulous element that FRSC men caused the crash. Our men were not in any way involved in the cause of the crash as patrol activities were not ongoing along that axis as at the time of the crash.”

The Director General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu said the number of fatalities and casualties could not be ascertained as at the time of reporting.

His words: “The Agency received a distress call at 2:56 pm about a truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School Bus-stop, Ojodu Berger. However, the information gathered from Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Nigerian Police Force officers at the scene revealed that an unidentified truck lost control and rammed into students returning from school. The incident led to severe injuries to some victims, others were discovered dead.  This unfortunate incident provoked some bystanders into taking laws into their hand by attempting to lynch NPF, LASTMA Officials, and other first responders at the scene, destroying vehicles and other property. The number of fatalities and casualties could not be ascertained as at the time of reporting.”