Two Container Trucks Overturn in Lagos, Kill Mother, Child

A mother and her child have died after two trucks carrying 20-foot containers overturned near Freeman Market at Mile 2, inward Apapa, Lagos State.

The Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, saying the victims were trapped beneath the overturned trucks and their cargoes.

He said the victims sustained fatal injuries in the crash, which occurred over the weekend.

Following the incident, LASTMA rescue and recovery personnel arrived at the scene to evacuate the victims, remove the wreckage and manage traffic. The affected section of the road was temporarily cordoned off, while motorists were diverted through an adjoining service lane to reduce congestion and prevent further accidents.

Taofiq said the agency deployed a crane and a heavy-duty towing vehicle to remove the overturned trucks and their containers. Officers of the Nigeria Police Force provided security during the operation, while the victims’ remains were taken to the Police Mortuary in Yaba for necessary procedures.

Reacting to the tragedy, LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and called for a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

He said investigators should determine whether mechanical defects, excessive loading, improper cargo distribution, driver negligence or other factors contributed to the overturning of the trucks.

Bakare-Oki stressed the importance of complying with road safety regulations, conducting regular vehicle inspections and ensuring that containers and other cargoes were properly secured before heavy-duty vehicles commenced their journeys.

He urged truck operators to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy and that drivers adhered to prescribed safety standards, noting that responsible driving and proper maintenance were essential to preventing avoidable deaths.

The incident comes weeks after another crash involving two trucks, a commercial bus and nine motorcycles at First Gate, inward Mile 2, along the Mile 2–Seme Expressway, left four people critically injured. Preliminary findings in that incident suggested that brake failure may have caused one of the trucks to lose control.

The latest fatalities have renewed concerns about the safety of heavily laden trucks on Lagos roads and the need for stricter compliance with vehicle maintenance and cargo-handling requirements.