The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed one the death of one person and the rescue of four others following a road accident at Ekoro Junction in Abule-Egba, Lagos State, on Friday evening.
Adebayo Taofiq, Director of the Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, confirmed this in a statement posted on the agency’s X account on Saturday.
According to the agency, the collision occurred about 7:30 p.m. when an empty MACK tanker experienced a sudden brake failure, lost control, and collided with a Toyota Corolla before slamming into a roadside shop.
According to LASTMA, the tanker, registered as EKY 900 XY, collided with a Toyota Corolla bearing the license plate AAA 823 AY.
The crash severely damaged the shop’s structure and sparked panic among nearby traders and pedestrians.
“The magnitude of the collision led to the immediate confirmation of one fatality at the scene, while four other trapped persons were extricated from the wreckage through coordinated emergency rescue efforts,” according to the organization.
The authority stated that it quickly launched its Rescue and Recovery Protocol, deploying trained operatives to handle the issue.
“Personnel implemented strategic traffic diversion, vehicular evacuation procedures, and crowd management in synergy with other emergency responders to forestall secondary incidents and guarantee unobstructed access for rescue operations,” LASTMA added.
It added that emergency teams performed rescue operations and offered medical care to the injured victims.
A heavy-duty tow truck was then sent in to remove the damaged tanker and clear the road of debris so that traffic could resume as usual, the agency said.
The organization said that the tanker driver left the scene soon after the collision, and security personnel have now begun to try to capture the driver and file a lawsuit.
“Security personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Ekoro Division, responded expeditiously, maintaining public order, securing the accident perimeter, and assisting in investigative processes aimed at establishing the precise sequence of events that culminated in the mechanical failure and subsequent collision.
“The incident precipitated considerable traffic congestion extending across adjoining routes toward Abule-Egba, necessitating robust traffic management interventions by LASTMA officials who remained on the ground directing vehicular movement and implementing diversion strategies to alleviate the backlog,” it said.
Olalekan Bakare-Oki, the agency’s general manager, reportedly sent condolences to the deceased’s family and advised transport operators—especially articulated vehicle drivers—to give regular vehicle maintenance top priority.
“Preventable mechanical deficiencies remain a significant contributory factor in severe road traffic crashes,” Bakare-Oki said.
Additionally, he counseled drivers to be alert, follow traffic laws, and drive responsibly, particularly in crowded business districts.
Bakare-Oki gave the public the assurance that security forces would carry out a comprehensive investigation to identify the incident’s immediate and distant causes and guarantee that those found guilty would face legal action in line with current regulations.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service, the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, and Nigeria Police Force officers were among the other emergency responders who worked together to coordinate rescue, medical response, and environmental safety measures at the scene, according to the agency.
