Protests in Lagos as fleeing driver kills pregnant woman, tricycle operator 

CITIZENS COMPASS —Protests on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, grounded Ago-Palaceway, near Okota are of Lagos State following the death of a pregnant woman and a tricycle operator by a motorist who drove against traffic in the area. 

The incident occurred at about 0800hrs, at Bayo Oyewale Street.

The protesters reportedly attacked uniform men at sight and vandalised valuable items including vehicles parked within the yard of Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA). 

There were conflicting accounts of what led to the incident. 

According to an account, the accident involved a Toyota sienna car which violated traffic rules at Ago roundabout and in the process of Enforcement, the driver escaped with a Mobile policeman seated in the car. 

It was learnt that the Mobile policeman was attached to LASTMA as at the time of the incident. 

Citizens Compass gathered that while the motorist was evading arrest, the vehicle ran into the tricycle popularly known as Keke Marwa thereby recording fatalities including the expectant mother and tricyclist. 

The policeman also sustained injuries while the scene attracted a mob who vent their anger on the policeman beating him to a pulp but some members of Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC), were said to have attempted to rescue the policeman until the scene became threatened and were advised to vacate the scene. 

The scene attracted some protests which were later hijacked by hoodlums who took the advantage to vandalise property in the area just as vehicular activities were disrupted for hours. 

Shedding light on the development, LASTMA Spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, in a statement, confirmed the fatalities. “Operatives of the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) disclosed that a driver apprehended for driving in a direction prohibited by Law (One-way) today killed a tricyle operator, pregnant woman and injured two school children around Okota axis of the State.

“Traffic Officer, Hassan Kehinde of Zone 27, Okota who led the LASTMA patrol team disclosed that a driver of a blue TOYOTA Sienna bus (AKD 944 HN) was apprehended for driving against traffic (One-way) around Ago Palace Way, Lagos.

” He disclosed further that a Policeman attached to the patrol team volunteered to escort the apprehended vehicle to LASTMA office for proper booking.

“On their way, and in an attempt by the driver to escape, he diverted into Bayo Oyewale Street by Ago round-about and rammed into a fully loaded tricycle”

“While the tricycle operator died instantly, the pregnant woman later died at the Hospital while the two injured school shildren were currently, under Intensive Care Unit” receiving medical attention, LASTMA Kehinde further added.

“The escort Police man in the contravened vehicle equally sustained various degrees of injury as a result of the fatal auto crash.

” LASTMA Kehinde confirmed that the incident sparked off protests as irate mob descended on the policeman but with the timely intervention of a team of Policemen from Ago/ Okota/Ilasa Police Stations saved the Policeman from being lynched.

” LASTMA yard was invaded and valuable items vandalized including vehicles within the premises.

“It is note worthy to mention that in an attempt to escape, the driver of the Sienna car lost control as a result of reckless driving which eventually resulted into the fatal accident”

The management of the agency commiserate with the families of the deceased ,and assured that thorough investigation will be carried out to determine the immediate and remote cause of the accident,and that  justice will be served appropriately.

Reacting, Spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin wrote on his verified Tweeter page, “This ugly incident happened when a driver fleeing from LASTMA officials who accosted him for driving against traffic ran into a tricycle. Unfortunately, two persons have been confirmed dead, while two children are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

“The policeman attached to the LASTMA team was severely attacked and grievously wounded by an angry mob. He is unconscious and currently being treated in hospital.

” Police backup teams immediately deployed to the scene have since restored normalcy in the area.

” Investigation has commenced into the incident.”  He added.

Photo Caption :

The rescued policeman