Official figures from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) have confirmed that nine people lost their lives while several others got injured in separate road accidents in Niger and Lagos states on Monday.
Available reports indicted that while five travellers were confirmed dead, and 20 others sustained severe injuries in a crash along the Lapai–Agaie Road in in Niger State, four persons, including a traffic officer, were killed in a fatal accident in the Badagry area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the Niger crash, which occurred in the early hours of Monday at Nami village in Agaie Local Government Area, involved a trailer conveying about 600 bags of soybeans and 27 passengers. Reports said the vehicle was en route to Lagos from Kano.
Eyewitnesses’ account indicated that the driver lost control due to the deplorable condition of the road, veered off the highway and eventually crashed with the injured victims immediately evacuated to the General Hospital in Lapai for treatment.
Confirming the unfortunate development, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Aishat Sa’ad, said the incident, which took place at about 7:20 a.m, involved a DAF trailer carrying 27 male passengers.
According to her, unfortunately five of the passengers died, while 20 others sustained varying degrees of injuries. She also confirmed that the vehicle was en route from Kano to Lagos.
Four Die In Lagos Incident
Meanwhile, it has also been confirmed that four persons, including a traffic officer, were killed when a truck suddenly rammed into the Badagry roundabout’s garden fence.
Reports said the deceased officer was on duty at the time of the incident that also claimed the lives of a commercial motorcyclist and his two passengers. According to eyewitnesses, the truck suffered brake failure inward Seme before crashing.
It was learnt that in the confusion, the driver repeatedly blared his vehicle’s horn, signalling other road users to keep away in an attempt to avoid a collision. In the process, he rammed into the roundabout’s fence in a bid to slow the vehicle, but the truck ploughed into the motorcycle and struck the traffic officer.
With emergency responders and security officials working to clear the wreckage, motorists had to battle gridlock, even as residents of the area urged traffic authorities in Lagos state to ensure stricter safety standards for heavy-duty trucks.
However, as of press time, no official statement was issued by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
