Sallah tragedy: 5 killed as container falls on 2 vehicles, 7 Okadas

The Eid-el-Fitri celebrations, turned tragic in Badagry area of Lagos on Wednesday as no fewer than five persons died when a container fell off a trailer and landed on a bus, crushing it alongside its occupants.

The accident which occurred at the Alakija Bus Stop area of the Badagry Express Road, occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, as preparations for the Eid-el-Fitri prayers began.

Eye witnesses, confirmed that a trailer with registration number KRD 526 XP, conveying some goods, lost control and ended up throwing its container on the ill-fated bus before any of its occupants could escape.

Confirming the incident, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Michael Akindele, told Lagos Metro that the agency received a distress call at about 8.00 a.m, and swiftly swung into action. The PHCN in Alakija was alerted to switch off the power supply in order to prevent any form of electrocution as it also damaged some PHCN poles, Akindele stated.

According to the LASEMA boss, “Five persons were killed in the accident.

The Police Public Relations  Officer (PPRO), Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

In a related development, Badmos said that Felix Oyeleye, a police corporal attached to Operations at the command headquarters, lost his life on Monday, after his patrol motorcycle was knocked down by a vehicle.

Badmos, said that the hit and run driver, allegedly hit the motorcycle carrying Oyeleye and one Corporal. Macaulay Esimiye while on patrol on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway at about 5 p.m. on Monday.

Badmos stated  “They were knocked down while on patrol on their motorcycle along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, inward Mile 2 by one bus, with registration number AKD 949 XF, driven by a yet to be identified driver

In the meantime, the vehicle has been impounded while efforts are being made to arrest the driver,’’ Badmos said.