The Lagos State Police Command confirms the tragic loss of a serving police inspector and several other individuals following a devastating multiple-truck crash that occurred early Thursday morning on the Kara Bridge section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
According to preliminary reports, the accident involved five articulated trucks, including a fuel tanker, which collided inward Mowe, near the Ogun-Lagos border. The collision resulted in a massive wreckage, with at least eight fatalities confirmed and several others injured.
Emergency response teams, including the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and fire services, were dispatched to the scene at approximately 5:00 a.m.. Rescue operations continued for several hours as responders worked to extract victims and clear the highway.
Commissioner of Police, Olanrewaju Ishola, who visited the scene, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and emphasized the importance of vehicle maintenance. “Preliminary investigations suggest that brake failure on one of the trailers may have triggered the chain reaction,” he stated. “We urge all drivers and fleet operators to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy to prevent such tragedies.”
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as one truck plunged into the Kara River while others burst into flames, causing panic and a major traffic gridlock. Television footage showed thick black smoke billowing from the wreckage as firefighters battled the blaze.