By: Manoah Kikekon
LAGOS, NIGERIA – Grief has enveloped the Badagry corridor following a devastating early morning crash on Saturday, August 22, 2026, which claimed the lives of five people. The fatal incident, involving a car and a heavy-duty truck, occurred near the Sawmill area close to the Mowo Bus Stop along the busy Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), a distress call was logged at 5:16 am, prompting the immediate deployment of the agency's Dolphin Team from the Igando base to the scene of the disaster.
Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered a mangled Toyota Camry bearing registration number FKJ 630KS and an Iveco truck with registration number T28081 LA.
In an official statement released on Saturday, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, revealed that preliminary investigations pointed to excessive speed and dangerous driving as the primary catalysts for the tragedy.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was caused by over-speeding and reckless driving on the part of the Toyota Camry driver. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, veered into the opposite lane, and had a head-on collision with the oncoming Iveco truck,” Oke-Osanyintolu stated.
The sheer force of the impact proved fatal for all occupants of the lighter vehicle. "Regrettably, the impact of the collision resulted in the death of five adult males who were occupants of the Toyota Camry. The remains of the victims were carefully recovered, bagged with dignity, and handed over to officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for further necessary action," the statement added.
A coordinated rescue effort was quickly mounted to manage traffic and clear the obstruction. Responding agencies at the scene included the LASEMA Dolphin Team, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the FRSC, and police operatives from the Morogbo Division.
Two heavy-duty tow trucks were deployed to remove the wreckage from the highway. The damaged vehicles were subsequently impounded at the Morogbo Police Division, and the expressway has since been cleared and reopened to regular traffic flow.
Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives, Oke-Osanyintolu commiserated with the bereaved families and offered prayers for the repose of the departed souls.
He further issued a stern caution to motorists, urging them to desist from over-speeding, wrongful overtaking, and other hazardous driving habits especially during the early hours of the day when visibility and alertness can be compromised.
“Road safety remains a shared responsibility,” Oke-Osanyintolu noted, reaffirming LASEMA's dedication to prompt emergency response and robust inter-agency collaboration in alignment with the Lagos State Government’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ Agenda focused on safeguarding the lives and property of residents.