Pandemonium broke out along the Ogunusi Road, Grammar School Bus Stop, in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon when the driver of an articulated truck lost control and rammed into over 20 pupils.
The pupils were on their way home after school activities and had wanted to cross the road when the truck ran over them.
A mob immediately chased him to the Ogba area before the police apprehended him. The angry youths also burnt the truck.
The mob, comprising angry youths and passersby, clashed with policemen at the scene who tried to maintain law and order.
It was also gathered that the mob attacked some policemen and descended on officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, even as police officers fired teargas canisters to disperse the mob.
Also, emergency responders including operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency reportedly turned back from the scene in the ensuing riot.
The incident grounded vehicular movement as motorists deserted the road and stranded commuters trekked long distances. LASEMA, in a situation report after the incident, confirmed the development.
It was titled, ‘Situation Report on the truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School bus-stop, Ojodu Berger,’ signed by LASEMA director-general, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
The statement read, “The Agency received a distress call at 2:56 pm about a truck accident at Ogunusi Road, Grammar School Bus-stop, Ojodu Berger.
“However, 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. “The incident led to severe injuries to some victims, others were discovered dead.
“This unfortunate incident provoked some bystanders into taking laws into their hands 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. “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.”
Also, spokesperson for the police command in the state, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said, “Students, in reaction, attacked the Ojodu Police Station wanting to carry out jungle justice on the arrested suspect (driver). In the process, the rampaging students destroyed some vehicles parked at the Police Station.
“The violent students and hoodlums who joined them were dispersed professionally. However, normalcy has been restored. Investigation into the fatal motor/pedestrians accident has since commenced.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps has said that its officers were not involved in the cause of the crash, saying that its officers were only called upon by passersby to help intervene after the crash had happened.
Punch
