As Nigerian Muslims joined the rest of the world in celebrating Eid el-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan period yesterday, tragedy struck when an unlatched 40-foot container fell on commercial motorcyclists, okadamen, and a commercial bus, Danfo, along Lagos-Badagry Expressway, killing three persons, all males, on the spot. The accident scene at Alakija General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA, Mr. Michael Akindele, who confirmed the incident, said two persons were rescued alive and rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. At press time, they were still in critical conditions. According to an eyewitness, the accident, which occurred about 8a.m., around Alakija Bus Stop, involved the container-laden truck, with number plates, KRD 526 XP, a Danfo, with number plates EPE 972 XH, and the okada riders. The truck was said to have developed brake failure. Akindele, the LASEMA boss, said: “The Agency received a distress call via the Control Room CRM at about 8a.m. Investigation conducted by the Emergency Response Team, ERT, at the scene of the incident revealed that the containerised vehicle lost its brake, rammed into the commercial mini bus and then fell on okada riders.” Beside LASEMA’s ERT, officials of Lagos State Fire Service; Police; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA; Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC; Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS; and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, were involved in the rescue operation. Akindele said: “The commercial bus and seven commercial motorcycles (okada) were badly damaged. “The Power Distribution Company, DISCO, in Alakija was alerted to switch off the power supply to prevent any form of electrocution as it also damaged some electric poles. “The agency’s heavy duty equipment (Goliath) and other heavy duty equipment from CCECC were used for the recovery process.”
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