Driver Kills 2 Highway Sweepers While Evading LASTMA Arrest

Tragedy struck on Monday morning as a driver, attempting to evade arrest by LASTMA officials, claimed the lives of two street sweepers on the Gbagada-Oshodi Expressway in Lagos.  The unidentified driver crashed into LAWMA members at their work location, leading to a protest from upset onlookers and drivers. Security forces, including the police, swiftly intervened, deploying tear gas to disperse the protesters and restore order at the scene. LAWMA, in an official statement, verified the fatalities and committed to collaborating with law enforcement to capture and prosecute the responsible driver, identified by the vehicle number EPE 984 DV. As tensions simmer, LAWMA urged motorists to exercise caution on highways to prevent similar tragedies. “We wish to appeal to motorists for the umpteenth time, to drive with utmost caution on the highways, to avoid sad incidents like this happening to our sanitation workers or anyone in the course of their legitimate duties. The public has been urged to remain calm as investigations unfold, with condolences extended to the grieving families of the deceased sanitation workers. 

Fatal Collision: 3 Die in Lagos Bus-Truck Accident

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Sunday said three persons died instantly in an auto crash involving a commercial bus and a truck. A statement by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, on Saturday, said the incident happened at Gbagada, by Charlie Boy Busstop. “Following a distress call received at 22:01hrs through the agency’s toll-free lines, LASEMA activated the Lagos State Emergency Response Plans with an arrival time of 22:17hrs. “Upon arrival of the agency’s LRT at the scene, it was observed that a white commercial bus lost control and crashed into a moving truck. “The 18-passenger commercial bus, with registration number JJJ-844YA and loaded to capacity, was heading to Ajah from Oshodi. “It lost control while on motion, rammed into a moving truck from behind and three people died instantly. “Two males and one female, all adults immediately lost their lives to the incident, while others sustained various degrees and categories of injuries,” he said. He added that out of the seven people injured, three were promptly administered pre-hospital care and ferried to Gbagada General Hospital for further treatment by the agency’s paramedics. “The three commodities have been bagged awaiting arrival of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, (SEHMU), to convey them to the morgue. “Light Tow Truck has been deployed to recover the affected vehicle from the busy road to forestall secondary incidents. “The LASEMA Response Team, LASEMA Pre-Hospital Care Team, Nigeria Police and Lagos Fire and Rescue Services were all present at the incident,” he said.

2,733 Road Accidents Occurred In Q1 2023 – NBS

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that the total number of 2,733 road traffic crashes occurred in the first quarter of 2023. The bureau, in its Road Transport Data Q1 2023, indicated a 24.44 per cent decrease from the previous quarter which recorded 3,617 and an 18.30 per cent fall from 3,345 in Q1 2022. It also noted that serious cases of traffic crashes stood at 1,801 in Q1 2023, compared to fatal and minor cases with 677 and 255 respectively. However, there was a decline in the three categories of cases in the quarter under review relative to the preceding quarter. “A total of 1,185 males were killed in Q1 2023, accounting for 82.23% of 1,441 persons killed, compared to 256 (17.77%) females killed. “Also, a total of 6,386 males were injured during the period, indicating 76.58% of 8,339 injured persons compared to 1,953 (23.42%) females injured. “A total of 4,095 vehicles were involved in road traffic crashes in Q1 2023, lower compared to the previous quarter which recorded 5,407, indicating a decrease of 24.26%,” the report said. By region, the North-Central recorded the highest number of crashes in Q1 2023 with 973, followed by the South-West with 678, while the South-South had the least with 122. “Similarly, the North-Central recorded the highest number of casualties with 2,928, followed by the North-West with 2,323, while the South-South recorded the least with 464,” the report added.

Petrol Tanker Explosion Claims 5 Lives In Delta –PPRO

The Police Command in Delta says five persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion in the state. The spokesman of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, disclosed this to newsmen in Warri, saying the incident occurred on 1 October at Ugbenu in Ethiope West Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. He said that the tanker, laden with petrol, was heading towards Benin City in the morning when the unfortunate incident happened. “In the early hours of October 1, 2023, at about 0200hrs, the Command recorded a tragic incident where a tanker, laden with petroleum product, being driven towards Benin on the Warri – Benin Road fell at Ugbenu Koko Junction. “Its content spilled into the nearby swamp and the spillage attracted a couple of youths who took advantage of the incident and started scooping fuel into jerry cans and other containers. “While they were at it, an explosion erupted and the fire from the explosion engulfed the whole area. “The fire claimed lives of five persons among the youths who had come to scoop fuel,” Edafe said. He said that several properties, including eight buses of different makes, two tankers, five trailers, two motorcycles, a Sienna space wagon and a ‘C’ Class Mercedes Benz car were also burnt. Edafe said that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the Oghara General Hospital’s morgue in Ethiope West. He added that police operatives attached to the Oghara division, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) at Ethiope West, had mobilised to the scene to ensure the free flow of traffic. Edafe said that the Commissioner of Police, Delta Command, Mr Wale Abass, had expressed his sympathy with the families that lost their loved ones in the incident. “It is sad that we never learn from past occurrences, since this is not the first time such incident has happened. “Nonetheless, I appeal that Nigerians should do away with greed and avoid scenes where there is an occurrence of oil spillages. “It poses a serious threat to their lives and the lives of others,” Edafe warned. 

8 die, 7 Injured In Delta Auto Crash- FRSC

No fewer than eight people were burnt beyond recognition on Sunday on the Ologbo Bridge, Benin/Sapele Expressway in Delta. The FRSC Spokesman, Mr Bisi Kazeem confirmed this in a statement in Abuja, stated that the fatal crash which occurred on October 1 at about 1pm, also had seven people injured. Kazeem said that the dual crash involved 15 different categories of vehicles stating the affected vehicles as 1 Toyota Hiace Bus, 2 FORD Buses, 1 Volkswagen Passat passat, 2 J5 Peugeot buses, 1 Daylong Motorcycle and 8 Tankers. “From the report gotten from the FRSC rescue team, a total of 15 people all male adults were involved. “Out of this number, seven people got injured, while eight victims were burnt beyond recognition. “The truck ladened with Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), coming from Warri, Delta State fell on the highway and spilled the PMS product on the road. “This, hereby led to an explosion that gutted the aforementioned number of vehicles and the 15 male victims, “he said. Kazeem quoted the FRSC Corps Marshal, Dauda Biu as calling on fleet operators, especially owners of tankers conveying inflammable products to ensure compliance with minimum safety standards by installing safety valves (Anti spill) in their vehicles. This, he said, is to eradicate all incidences of mishap resulting from lack of safety valves in tankers. Biu also called on owners and operators of tankers to comply with all safety standards set by the government on operation of that category of vehicle on Nigerian road. He directed Commanding Officers to ensure that tankers that do not meet safety standards were not allowed to ply the highways.

4 die, 10 injured in Jigawa auto crash – FRSC

About four persons have died, while 10 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in an accident involving two vehicles on Gumel-Kano Road in Jigawa. Mr Ibrahim Gambo, the Spokesman, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, confirmed the accident in a Road Traffic Report (RTC), in Dutse on Monday. He said the accident occurred at about 12:25 a.m. when a bus had a head-on collision with an upcoming vehicle at Achauya village in Gumel Local Government Area of the state. “A commercial bus (Sharon) with registration number GML 260 XX carrying passengers was involved in a collision with a truck with registration number GUS 648 XA coming from the opposite direction. “It could be attributed to speed violation and loss of control, 14 persons, consisting of 11 males and three females were involved in the crash,” he said. He said that four male passengers were certified dead by a medical doctor at a hospital in the area while seven males and three females were receiving treatment. He advised motorists to shun night journeys and respect traffic rules to ensure safety on the road.