At least eight people have been confirmed dead after a commercial bus collided with a DAF truck in the early hours of Sunday at Atura Bus Stop, along the Badagry route in Lagos State.
The victims included the driver and conductor of the bus, who died on the spot in what eyewitnesses described as a horrific accident. Several other passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to the General Hospital in Badagry for treatment.
According to witnesses, the bus was travelling at high speed before the driver lost control and slammed into a stationary truck. The impact of the crash left many passengers trapped inside the wreckage.
Emergency responders, including officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigerian Police (Morogbo Division), and soldiers from the Nigerian Army’s 244 Battalion, were quickly on the scene to rescue survivors.
A spokesperson for LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed that a preliminary investigation showed the driver was speeding excessively when the crash occurred. “The impact was devastating, leaving little chance of survival for many onboard,” he said.
The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the accident site, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the affected families. He urged drivers to avoid speeding and to ensure their vehicles are regularly maintained.
“This painful incident reminds us how fragile life is. No journey is worth a life lost. We must all prioritise safety on our roads,” he said.
Bakare-Oki also revealed that the Lagos State Government has begun installing speed-limiting devices in high-risk areas in an effort to reduce traffic accidents and deaths. He described speeding as a “silent killer” and called for stricter adherence to road safety regulations.