BADAGRY, Nigeria – In what is now being referred to as Black Sunday, the festive atmosphere of a party turned to tragedy in the Badagry district of Lagos State when an 18-seater commercial bus crashed, claiming the lives of all its occupants.
The victims were on their way to a group party in the Republic of Benin, having charted the ill-fated bus from the Yaba district of Lagos State.
Tragically, none survived the fatal accident, including the driver and his motor boy.
The horrific crash occurred around 9 am on Sunday, July 9, 2023, near Age-Mowo, in close proximity to Mowo along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, reported Taofiq Adebayo, a spokesman for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA.
The accident “involved a Mazda commercial bus with passengers and a truck loaded with sand,” described a LASTMA official. “The driver of the commercial bus lost control when he saw a truck ahead of him while trying to overtake the tipper truck loaded with sand. Immediately, 20 people died, including the 18 passengers, the commercial bus driver, and his motor boy.”
The aftermath of the crash turned the bustling highway into a scene of desolation and sorrow as the news of the fatalities began to filter into the surrounding communities.
Adebayo informed that the remains of the victims have been transported to the Badagry General Hospital morgue. As news of the tragic accident spread, local residents, families, and friends have begun gathering at the hospital seeking information about their loved ones.
In a solemn statement, LASTMA extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, expressing profound sadness at the loss of life.
“This is a sad day for us all in Lagos,” Adebayo said. “Our hearts go out to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident. We mourn with them and assure them that we will do everything possible to investigate this incident thoroughly.”
As authorities work to understand the full scope of the tragic accident, they urge motorists to exercise caution on the road, hoping to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
