No fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead in Lagos State on Friday after a container truck rammed into traders, commuters, and bystanders at the popular Balogun Market.
The tragic incident, which occurred at the busy Lagos market at Broad Street, Balogun Market Junction, by UBA, Marina, left three others seriously injured.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed the development in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, on Friday.
According to LASEMA, the accident was caused by brake failure in a MACK truck carrying a 40-foot container belonging to a transport and logistics company.
The statement read, “Upon arrival of the Agency’s response teams (Shark, Cobra and Paramedics) at the scene by 1113hrs, it was discovered that a MACK truck with registration number T-234 84 LA laden with 40-foot container belonging to KINGSDAY LIMITED (Transport and Logistics) was found to have run over traders, bystanders and commuters at the incident scene.
“Preliminary investigations conducted by the response teams revealed that the incident was due to a mechanical error (brake failure), which caused the loaded containerised truck to crash into the walkway where commercial activities were conducted.
“Unfortunately, two adults were confirmed dead by the emergency responders while three adults sustained serious injuries and were immediately evacuated to the hospital by the responders at the scene.”
Following the incident, LASEMA operatives, alongside first responders who included men of the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency, carried out an immediate evacuation of the fatalities and casualties.
