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By Ngozi Nwoke
Tragedy struck in Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State on Thursday morning as three persons were confirmed dead, while several others were injured, after a bus conveying workers of the Lagos State government rammed into a moving train at the level crossing of PWD/Sogunle.
Confirming the accident, the Lagos territorial office coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, said the victims were all staff of the Lagos State government.
It was gathered that the driver of the bus refused to adhere to the directive of level crossing keepers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), who ordered him to stop for the coming train.
The bus belonged to the Lagos State government and was used to convey the state’s employees at the old secretariat in GRA, Ikeja.
A source in the NRC said: “There are level crossing keepers of NRC at that level crossing controlling train movement on the narrow guage. We also have flagmen at that place controlling the standard guage line. We were told that they stopped the driver from passing because of the incoming train but he refused. He thought he could pass before the coming of the train. So sad.”
However, in the NEMA statement, Farinloye said: “Two bodies, all of staff of the state government, dead, and several injured, evacuated. The state government staff bus was trying to cross the PWD/Sogunle rail crossing while the train coming into Lagos from Abeokuta trapped the bus on its rail.
“The accident recorded many casualties as the staff bus was fully loaded with staffs going to office this morning. LASTMA officials and other emergency responders are on ground rescuing victims of the accident.”
In a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu expressed shock and sorrow over the Thursday morning accident involving a train and a Lagos State government staff bus.
The governor expressed his condolences to the families of those that lost their lives in the accident, praying that God would grant them eternal rest.
He said: “I am deeply saddened by the news of the accident. The vehicle was conveying staff of the Lagos State government, our staff who serve the state in different capacities. Let’s say a prayer for the families and a prayer of mercy and protection for our state. My thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.”
Sanwo-Olu thanked residents who joined the state’s first responders in the search and rescue operation, saying the true spirit of Lagos must be sustained at all times.
Agencies present at the scene of the accident were LASAMBUS officials, Nigeria Police Force, LASTMA, LNSC and Nigerian Army.
He noted: “A big thank you to well meaning Lagosians who immediately joined in rescue efforts. Our first responders and emergency services are on ground and we will share more information shortly.”
The governor promised to give updates on the incident as it is deemed necessary.
On his part, Mr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency LASEMA, noted that “on arrival of the agency’s response team at the scene of incident, it was discovered that a Viale BRT bus with registration number 04A-48LA and a train was involved in an accident at the above mentioned address.
“Investigation gathered revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was due to reckless driving on the part of the BRT bus driver while trying to beat the train traffic signal before the moving train rammed into the BRT bus. Unfortunately, two adults were confirmed dead and several people seriously injured.
“The injured victims have been administered first aid treatment by the agency’s medical team (paramedics) and LASAMBUS officials, well stabilized and being transported to trauma center at LASUTH Ikeja for further treatment.
“The agency’s LRT at Cappa alongside LRT at C3, LRU paramedics at C3, Onipanu, Cappa, LASAMBUS officials, Nigeria Police Force, LASTMA, LNSC and Nigerian Army are responders present at the scene of incident.”
Miss Flora Kayode, a survivor who was among other workers in the ill-fated BRT bus shared her fearful experience with Daily Sun. She said: “The driver has been driving recklessnessly before the accident happened. It didn’t come as a surprise to me that the accident occurred because of his reckless driving. It’s so painful that he is still alive while he sent the innocent passengers to their untimely death for nothing. I was fortunate to be alive because the passenger who sat beside me didn’t survive the accident.”
Another worker, Mr. Ebunoluwa Isachar, also recalled that the driver almost hit a tricycle driver popularly known as ‘Keke’ before the accident and urged the BRT management to investigate the avoidable incident and sanction the driver for his reckless driving.
He noted: “My wife would have suddenly become a young widow today if I wasn’t a survivor of the accident. My old mother would have been weeping her eyes out if anything had happened to me in this accident. My children would have become fatherless if I had died today, all because of the driver’s failure to apply simply driving rules. Just look at how he sent people’s loved ones to their early graves. These are people who left their families and homes this morning to embark on their daily activities.
“Now they are lying lifeless because of someone’s carelessness. I have nothing much to say but to thank God and appeal to the authority of the BRT bus to critically check the kind of drivers they employ. Now, we are seeing irresponsible people driving the buses; drivers who are willing to exchange words and blows with passengers. I have have encountered ruthless drivers of the BRT and it isn’t a pleasant experience. The government should also do better by investigating the accident.”
A witness, Joshua Akinshola, described the accident as horrible, noting that the bus driver should not be blamed as it was the handiwork of evil forces.
He said: “All the passengers in the bus are blaming the driver for his carelessness when they ought to be expressing gratitude to God for sparing their lives. No one is better than the three people who lost their lives, but it pleases God to spare them. It calls for utmost thanksgiving. Sometimes these accidents are not ordinary. When the enemy decides to strike a person, it takes only the grace of God to rescue the situation and save the person. This accident is clearly orchestrated by the devil. We should be praising God. Only the living can praise God.”
Meanwhile, the minister of transportation, Mu’azu Jaji Sambo, has ordered a detailed investigation of the incident and the Nigerian Railway Police Command has effectively taken over the investigation of the incident.
