Lagos State Police Command has given given an update on the accident involving a DAF truck which occurred on Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at about 2:15pm, confirming that two students died while 12, consisting of five males and seven females, were injured.
The DAF truck with registration number APP 438 YA, driven by one Bolaji Kabiru, had rammed into some pedestrians, later identified as students of Babs Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu formerly Ojodu Grammar School.
In a statement, the police image-maker, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed that aa result of the accident, two males died on the spot, while seven females and five males, totalling 12 victims, sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“Traffic personnel from the Motor Traffic Department of the Ojodu Police Division immediately visited the scene. Corpses of the dead students (identity not yet known) were evacuated with the support of officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and were deposited in the morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.
“The injured victims were taken to God’s Apple City Hospital, Ojodu Berger; St. Michael Hospital, Ojodu; and the Lagos State Emergency Hospital, Toll Gate.
“The erring driver has been apprehended and kept in police custody,” the PPRO stated.
Things however took another turn when angry students, who were later joined by hoodlums, set the accidented vehicle ablaze and also attacked the Ojodu Police Station in their large number, demanding the release of the driver for jungle justice.
Ajisebutu said that when their demand was not met, they became violent, and in the process, destroyed four vehicles parked in the premises of the police station and another mobile truck on the highway.
“To avoid total breakdown of law and order, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, immediately ordered deployment of policemen comprising tactical teams, Rapid Response Squad and others to the scene to maintain law and order.
“The protesters were professionally dispersed with minimum force without resulting to any further injury.
“While commiserating with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the fatal motor accident, the Commissioner of Police appeals to sympathisers and other members of the public to allow the police carry out a thorough investigation, and avoid seeking self help,” the police spokesman said further.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) said that its officials who went for rescue operation had to head back to their base as the scene was insecure and unsafe for rescue and recovery operations when miscreants police officers, as well as FRSC and LASTMA officials who were on rescue mission.
In a statement by the DG/CEO
LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, he gave a situation report on the truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School bus-stop, Ojodu Berger.
According to him, “the agency received a distress call at 2:56 pm about a truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School Bus-stop, Ojodu Berger. However, the information gathered from LASTMA and NPF Officials at the scene revealed that an unidentified truck lost control and rammed into students returning from School.
“The incident led to severe injuries to some victims, others were discovered dead.
“This unfortunate incident provoked some bystanders into taking laws into their hands by attempting to lynch NPF, LASTMA officials and other first responders at the scene, destroying vehicles and other property.
“The number of fatalities and casualties could not be ascertained as at the time of reporting.
“The attack by the miscreants led the Emergency Team to head back to base as the scene was insecure and unsafe for rescue and recovery operations.”
Also the Lagos Sector Command of the FRSC debunked the rumour that its officials caused the truck, as he explained that they were called to the scene for rescue operation.
According to the command’s Public Education Officer, Route Commander, Olabisi Sonusi,
the men of FRSC were called upon by passerby to help intervene after the crash occurred.
“About seven of the victims were rescued and immediately taken to Lagos State Emergency Centre, Ojota by FRSC personnel while another road user helped in carrying about seven also to the same emergency centre.
“The general public should disregard the information being circulated by some elements that FRSC men caused the crash.
“We want to place it on record that our men were not in any way involved in the cause of the crash as patrol activities were not ongoing along that axis as at the time of the crash.
“The Sector Commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide however wishes to commiserate with the families of the deceased, that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. He also prayed that the injured will recuperate fast.
“He therefore wishes to state that normalcy has been restored to the axis as security agents are on ground to ensure free flow of movements for motorists.”
