Dispatch Rider Killed as Two Trucks Collide While Battling for Right of Way in Lagos

A dispatch rider was killed on Saturday in a multiple-vehicle road crash involving two trucks at Ijesha, inward Mile 2, Lagos State.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the fatal accident in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu. The incident was also reported by multiple Nigerian news outlets on Saturday. 

According to LASEMA, its Eagle Response Team was promptly deployed to the scene after the crash, which involved a FAW truck with registration number T-30364LA, an Iveco truck with registration number KSF 958 XV and the dispatch rider.

Preliminary findings by the emergency agency indicated that the crash occurred after the two truck drivers were allegedly battling for right of way.

LASEMA said the FAW truck struck the Iveco truck during the struggle for the lane, after which the Iveco truck hit the dispatch rider from behind. The impact left the dispatch rider fatally injured.

Officers of the Nigeria Police Force from the Okota Division subsequently evacuated the victim’s remains from the scene and deposited them at a morgue for identification and other necessary procedures.

Emergency responders also worked to prevent the crash from causing further danger to motorists and other road users. The two trucks were removed from the main carriageway and moved to a designated lay-by to clear the road and restore normal traffic flow.

LASEMA said its Eagle Response Team and police personnel remained at the scene throughout the recovery operation before the affected section of the road was declared safe for motorists.

Oke-Osanyintolu commiserated with the family of the deceased and prayed for the repose of his soul.

The LASEMA Permanent Secretary also urged commercial and articulated-vehicle drivers to exercise greater caution on Lagos roads, particularly warning against reckless driving, wrongful overtaking and dangerous competition for road space.

The agency stressed that road safety remains a collective responsibility and called on motorists to comply with traffic regulations to prevent avoidable crashes.

The fatal incident comes amid continuing concerns over the dangers posed by articulated vehicles on major Lagos traffic corridors. The Mile 2 axis, in particular, has continued to experience heavy truck activity and traffic pressure in recent days. 

LASEMA reiterated its commitment to responding promptly to emergencies and protecting the lives of motorists, pedestrians, dispatch riders and other vulnerable road users across Lagos State.

Photos: Lagos Officials Discover Makeshift Clinic Along Lagos-Badagry Expressway

Lagos State environmental enforcement officials have uncovered a makeshift clinic operating from a roadside shanty along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, where a patient was reportedly found receiving treatment.

The discovery was made around Barracks Bus Stop during a multi-agency enforcement operation targeting illegal structures and roadside shanties along the major highway.

The operation was carried out by the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Task Force and other enforcement agencies.

The team, led by the LAGESC Corps Marshal, Major Olaniyi O. Cole (rtd.), reportedly came across the improvised medical facility while clearing the area.

According to the information available, officials found a patient receiving treatment inside the makeshift facility, raising concerns over the operation of an apparent medical facility in an unapproved roadside structure.

The discovery forms part of the wider enforcement exercise aimed at removing illegal structures and shanties along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

The Lagos-Badagry corridor has witnessed several enforcement activities in recent times as authorities intensify efforts to clear illegal structures and improve safety and movement along the major highway.

Further details on the identity of the operator, the nature of treatment being administered and possible sanctions were not immediately available.

Photos:

Lagos Governor Assures Safety of Alakija Bridge After Vandalism Attempt

Lagos State Governor inspecting Alakija Bridge after an alleged vandalism attempt

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured residents that the Alakija Bridge remains safe and structurally sound following an alleged attempt by vandals to damage part of the bridge.

The governor disclosed this after inspecting the bridge earlier today, saying the incident had been brought under control and there was no cause for alarm.

According to him, the bridge remains safe and ready for use, while security agencies have moved to apprehend those responsible for the attempted vandalism.

Sanwo-Olu commended personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos State Task Force, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps for their swift response in securing the area.

He disclosed that some of the suspects allegedly involved in the incident had already been arrested, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend others.

The governor warned individuals involved in the destruction or attempted destruction of public infrastructure across Lagos State, stressing that such acts would attract the full force of the law.

He also linked the development to the wider efforts to improve security and maintain infrastructure along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor.

According to him, the ongoing clean-up operation along the corridor is already producing visible results and would be sustained.

Sanwo-Olu urged Lagos residents to take responsibility for protecting public infrastructure, noting that facilities such as bridges and roads belong to the people and are essential to the movement of residents and businesses across the state.

He assured Lagosians that the government would continue to work with security agencies to protect critical infrastructure and respond quickly to threats that could endanger public safety.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over the vandalism of public infrastructure in different parts of Lagos, with authorities increasingly relying on security agencies and community-based monitoring to protect government facilities.

Two-Storey Building Collapses in Ogun, Occupants Feared Trapped as Rescue Operation Continues

Residents of the Ajuwon area in Ogun State were thrown into panic on Monday after a two-storey building collapsed, trapping an unspecified number of people beneath the rubble.

The incident, which occurred in the densely populated community, prompted an immediate response from emergency officials, security agencies and local volunteers, who swiftly mobilised to the scene in an effort to rescue those believed to be trapped.

Eyewitnesses said several occupants were inside the building when it suddenly caved in, sending residents scrambling for safety as loud cries for help echoed through the neighbourhood.

Rescue workers have since commenced a painstaking search-and-rescue operation, using available equipment to clear the debris while anxious family members and residents gathered around the site hoping for positive news.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not confirmed the number of people trapped, rescued or killed in the incident.

The cause of the building collapse also remains unknown. However, relevant government agencies are expected to launch a full investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the structural failure.

Building collapses have remained a recurring concern in parts of Nigeria, with experts often attributing such incidents to substandard construction materials, poor workmanship, structural defects, non-compliance with approved building standards and inadequate regulatory oversight.

Emergency responders continue to work at the scene as efforts intensify to locate and rescue anyone still trapped beneath the collapsed structure.

Residents have appealed for additional emergency support and specialised rescue equipment to speed up the operation.

More details are expected as rescue efforts continue and officials provide updates on the incident.

Tropic Reporters