Yesterday, blood flowed as rushing out of door after an articulated truck crushed pupils of Babs Fafunwa Millennium Secondary School at Grammar School Bus Stop, Ogunnusi Road, on the Ogba-Ojodu/Berger axis.

It was gathered that some 17 students who were returning from school were feared dead.

It was also learnt that the truck driver was trying to evade arrest by vehicle inspection officers.

Another account alleged that the truck driver was chased by an official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) before he rammed into the pupils.

Sources said the accident occurred about 2pm when the pupils, who had finished their examination for the day, were returning home.

It was gathered that the truck driver attempted to escape after the accident but was chased to Ogba where he was apprehended by a mob and the set ablaze.

“The trailer was coming with speed from Berger area heading to Ogba. He was being chased by VIO and LASTMA officers. So, he hit the students, who were about to cross the road.

“The children were shouting for help, but the trailer driver ran away instead of stopping. The children were many, about 15 children.

“One policeman came and he said there were 15 children. Many of them were injured.

“The truck driver was trying to escape. Then, a car double-crossed him. So, he came down and people started chasing him. When they caught him, he brought out a knife to attack the crowd. So, someone hit him from behind, took the knife from him and stabbed him. So, he was now taken to the Grammar School Police Station. The students were angry and started throwing stones, attacking and vandalising any truck in sight,” an eye witness narrated.

Another eye witness said after the tragedy, hoodlums joined students in a protest which caused gridlock on the road and slowed down economic and other activities on the Ogba-Ojodu axis.

In a statement issued late Tuesday, spokesman for the Lagos State police command, Mr. Adekunle Ajisebutu, said two students were killed in the accident while 12 other persons also sustained injuries

“Today, 7th December, 2021 at about 1415hrs, a DAF truck with Registration No APP 438 YA driven by one Bolaji Kabiru ‘m’ rammed into some pedestrians later identified as students of Babs Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu formerly Ojodu Grammar School,” the statement reads.

“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.

“Traffic personnel from the Motor Traffic Department of the Ojodu Police Division immediately visited the scene.

“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,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had denied its involvement in the crash that claimed the children’s lives.

In a statement signed by the route commander and public education officer, Olabisi Sonusi, the FRSC said: “An articulated truck was said to have lost control at Grammar School Bus stop along Ogunnusi road, which caused the death of an unverified number of students and leaving many injured.

“The men of FRSC were called upon by passersby to help intervene after the crash had happened.

“About seven 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 also to the same emergency centre.

“The general public should disregard the information being circulated by some unscrupulous elements that FRSC men caused the crash.

“We want to place on record that our men were not in any way involved in the cause of the crash as patrol activities were not ongoing along that axis as at the time of the crash.

“The sector commander corps commander, Olusegun Ogungbemide, however, wishes to commiserate with the families of the deceased, that God will grant them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. He also prayed that the injured would recuperate fast.

“He, therefore, wishes to state that normalcy has been restored to the axis as security agents are on ground to ensure free flow of movement for motorists.”

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