8 dead, 8 injured as bus collides with truck in Badagry

Eight people have been confirmed dead and eight others injured on Sunday in a road accident at Atura Bus Stop, inbound Badagry, in Lagos State.

A statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, said the accident involved a collision between a 16-seater commercial Mazda bus and a truck.

The agency said a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the commercial bus lost control while navigating at a dangerous “high speed, leading to a catastrophic collision with a DAF truck”.

It said that the impact created by the accident left little chance for survival for several occupants of the bus.

“The tragic accident instantly claimed the lives of eight passengers, including the driver of the ill-fated bus and his conductor, casting a somber pall over the Badagry axis and leaving the community in profound mourning and collective grief. LASTMA operatives, in concert with personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force (Morogbo Division), and the 244 Battalion of the Nigerian Army (Ibereko Barracks), swiftly launched a coordinated rescue operation at the accident scene. Their timely intervention led to the successful extraction of eight surviving passengers, all of whom sustained varying degrees of trauma,” it added.

The agency said that the casualties were immediately evacuated to the General Hospital in Badagry with an FRSC vehicle for critical medical attention.

According to the statement, the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the crash site to personally evaluate the situation, extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for divine fortitude to help them withstand the irreplaceable loss.

“This heart-wrenching incident is a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for all road users to embrace caution. No journey should end in such tragedy. May the Almighty grant the deceased eternal rest and console those left behind,” he was quoted as saying.

He further extended warm wishes for a swift and full recovery to the surviving victims still undergoing treatment.

Bakare-Oki, however, advised commercial and heavy-duty vehicle operators to eschew excessive speeding, adhere strictly to safety protocols, and ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles to avoid unnecessary fatalities.