Following death of two students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School crushed to death by the driver of a DAF truck with Registration No. APP 438 YA in the Ojodu-Berger axis in Lagos on Tuesday, the erring driver, Mr. Bolaji Kabiru has been arrested.
This was confirmed by the Police Spokesperson, CSP. Adekunle Ajisebutu.
A statement by CSP. Ajisebutu stated the truck rammed into some pedestrians later identified as students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu formerly Ojodu Grammar School along Ogunnusi road, Ojodu Berger, Lagos.
Giving details of the casualties, the Police Spokesperson said, “As a result of the accident, two males died on the spot, seven females and five males totalling twelve victims sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Responding to the incident, traffic personnel from the Motor Traffic Department of the Ojodu Police Division were said to have immediately visited the scene.
Stating further, the Lagos State Police Command Public Relations Officer said, “Corpses of the dead students (identity not yet known) were evacuated with the support of officers of the FRSC and were deposited at the Morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy.”
“The injured victims were taken to God’s Apple City Hospital, Ojodu Berger; St. Michael Hospital, Ojodu; and the Lagos State Emergency Hospital, Toll Gate.”
Further information stated that angry students destroyed vehicles and the students who were later joined by hoodlums set the accidented vehicle ablaze.
The Police further said they also attacked the Ojodu Police Station in their large number, demanding the release of the driver for jungle justice.
However, when their demand was not met, they became violent. In the process, they destroyed four vehicles parked in the premises of the police station and another mobile truck on the highway.
To avoid total breakdown of law and order, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, immediately ordered deployment of policemen comprising tactical teams, Rapid Response Squad and others to the scene to maintain law and order.
The protesters were said to have professionally dispersed the crowd with minimum force without resulting to any further injury.
While commiserating with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the fatal motor accident, the Commissioner of Police appeals to sympathisers and other members of the public to allow the police carry out a thorough investigation, and avoid seeking self help.
However, normalcy has been restored and investigation into the fatal motor/pedestrians accident has commenced.
Earlier, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has debunked claims that the agency was involved in the crash that claimed lives of school children.
In a statement by Route Commander Olabisi Sonusi, FRSC Public Education Officer said, “An articulated truck was said to have lost control at Grammar School Bus stop along Ogunnusi road, Lagos today Tuesday 7th December, 2021 which caused the death of unverified number of students and leaving many injured.
The statement explained further “”We want to place on record that our men were not in any way involved in the cause of the crash as patrol activities was not ongoing along that axis as at the time of the crash.
“About seven (7) of the victims were rescued and immediately taken to Lagos State Emergency Centre Ojota by FRSC personnel while another road user helped in carrying about seven (7) also to the same emergency centre.
According to Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Director General Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, he said the Agency received a distress call at 2:56 pm about a truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School Bus-stop, Ojodu Berger.
It added that, “the information gathered from LASTMA and NPF officials at the scene revealed that an unidentified truck lost control and rammed into students returning from school.
Stating that the incident led to severe injuries to some victims, others were discovered dead.
This unfortunate incident provoked some by-standers into taking laws into their hand by attempting to lynch NPF, LASTMA officials and other first responders at the scene, destroying vehicles and other properties.
The number of fatalities and casualties could not be ascertained as at the time of reporting, while the attack by the miscreants led the Emergency Team to head back to base as the scene was insecure and unsafe for rescue and recovery operations, the LASEMA boss said.
