Nine dead as container falls on commercial bus in Lagos

No fewer than nine bus passengers have been crushed to death as an articulated vehicle carrying a 20ft container fell on a commercial bus in the Ojuelegba area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the commercial bus was picking up passengers at the bus stop along the Ojuelegba Bridge when the vehicle lost control and fell over the side of the bridge.

Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident on Sunday.

He explained that the nine victims recovered comprised four adult males, three adult females, a girl child and a boy child.

“Upon arrival at the scene, a truck conveying a 20ft container was found to have landed on top of a commercial bus. Further investigations revealed that the bus was picking up passengers when the truck lost control and fell over the side of the bridge.

“After suspending the container load with the aid of the agency’s forklift and cutting off the top of the bus with light rescue equipment, a single adult woman was extricated alive and taken to the trauma centre.

“Final casualty count is 9 fatalities comprising four adult males, three adult females, one boy child and one girl child and one adult female rescued alive.

“The agency’s heavy-duty Goliath and teams from Onipan and Cappa are on ground. The agency’s ambulance, LASG FIRE, FED FIRE, LASTMA and Nigeria Police have been working on this situation which is now concluded.

“Further investigation to be carried out by the Nigeria Police on the removal of the barriers on the bridge aimed at preventing trucks from ascending,” the statement said.