By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Asaba
LAGOS: Two dispatch riders lost their lives in a horrific road accident on Sunday morning after a container fell on them along the Alaka end of Eko Bridge, Lagos. The container, which dislodged from a moving truck, crushed the victims beyond recognition, sparking fresh concerns over the recklessness of articulated vehicle drivers on Nigerian roads.
According to preliminary investigations by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the driver of the truck was reportedly asleep at the wheel when the vehicle veered off course and rammed into another truck ahead of it. The force of the impact caused a 20-foot container to fall off, landing directly on the two unsuspecting dispatch riders who were navigating the busy bridge at the time.
Confirming the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said: “The unfortunate loss of two lives was a result of a collision involving two fully loaded Mack trucks with registration numbers T-10357 LA and KJA 107 XM. Our officers responded swiftly and were able to rescue one injured truck driver, who is currently receiving treatment at a hospital.”
Bakare-Oki added that the other two truck drivers fled the scene shortly after the accident, leaving their vehicles behind. “We have launched a manhunt to apprehend the fleeing drivers and bring them to justice,” he said.
He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and cautioned all truck operators to take greater responsibility while on the road. “Driving under fatigue or poor vehicle maintenance is unacceptable, especially when human lives are at stake,” he stressed.
Emergency responders including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), and officers from the Iporin Police Division were all present at the scene to manage the situation and clear the wreckage.
Vehicular movement along the affected part of Eko Bridge was diverted through Costain Roundabout inward Alaka and Stadium axis to ease traffic congestion.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the urgent need for stricter regulation and monitoring of heavy-duty trucks operating within the city, especially along busy corridors like Eko Bridge.