Accidents Kill 4, Injure Many On Same Spot In 2 Weeks 

Another accident has been reported around Oyemekun bus stop on College Raod, Ogba Lagos, making it the third fatal accident almost on same spot in 13 days.

Exactly two weeks after ago, a trailer rammed into a shop killing a trader around the ever-busy Oyemekun bus stop  and nine hours after, a car also crashed about 20 metres away, leaving an occupant dead instantly while two others died at the hospital.

The Sunday accident had involved a couple and their two children hit by a speeding vehicle whose driver attempted to escape due to panic.

The couple sustained head injuries while the children reportedly had multiple fractures. According to eye witnesses and neighbours of the victims, the woman is in critical condition in the hospital while her husband has lost an eye as at press time.

The Oyemekun area opposite the Ogba canal has been notorious in recent times where close to ten accidents have been recorded in 12 months.

Residents are now calling on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to save the lives of people in the area and other road users who are being hit by moving vehicles regularly in avoidable accidents.

Other road users have also said that Sunday accident happened because the broken walkway as a result of the first accident two weeks ago was not fixe.

“The family would have been able to use the walkway if it was fixed after the first accident that claimed the shop owner,” a passerby said, adding that, “Infrastructural decay has claimed more lives on Nigerian roads. The broken walkway and street lights that were not on caused this recent accident last night.”

Nine hours after the trailer on 15^th July killed the shop owner, another car almost at the same spot crashed due to overspending,, killing an occupant of the car instantly while two others later died in the hospital.

The multiple accidents prompted the Lagos State Government to fix a plastic speed breaker at Oyemekun bus stop, few meters away from the spot of the accidents. However, the plastic speed breakers have been vandalised by unscrupulous elements, leaving the stretch of the speed breaker to only a patch.

Just yesterday, Sunday 27^th July at about 10pm, residents of the area said another accident occurred almost at the same spot as a vehicle hit some pedestrians including a man, his wife and two children.

According to neighbours, the woman sustained a serious head injury while the husband may lose one eye. The little children were also not spared as they both sustained fractures according to their neighbor.

Another eye witness who did not mention her name said, “We are calling on the government of Lagos State to come and do something fast before more people die here.

“The man was returning home in company of his wife and twin children, he died instantly while the woman sustained serious injury. We are still praying she survives because she had head injury,” she said.

The eye witness added that, “The car involved was driven by a man who attempted to speed off perhaps due to confusion. He was apprehended at Aguda area of Ogba around Excellent Hotel.”

Another resident said it was an unfortunate situation. “It was just unfortunate. This bend has claimed so many lives in just 14 days. The government should be aware that people are being lost here now regularly and the speed breaker they fixed has been vandalised, they need a permanent one made with concrete.”

“You can see the spot the accident took place yesterday, neighbours had to wash off the blood and some clots of blood are still visible at the spot,” she added.

Blood stain is still visible as at press time as residents of Oyemekun are calling on the state government to fix permanent speed breakers before the bend.

Meanwhile, some observers had read spiritual meaning to the incessant accidents.

Angela Samson is a member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church who tried to explain a spiritual dimension.

“This is not the only bend in Lagos but ask yourself why this same spot has claimed more than three lives in two weeks,’ she said, adding that “People in the area must pray hard. The problem is spiritual and many people may not accept it.”

Meanwhile, others may not accept Samson’s argument as accident is possible when vehicles speed into a bend.

“Before we read spiritual meaning to things like this, we must exhaust all physical options,” said another commentator.

Arguing further, the observer said, “Instead of fixing concrete speed breakers, the government went to fix the plastic type which in few days was vandalised.

“If there are any devils involved, I can say the vandals are the devils which the government must outsmart simply by fixing concrete bumps and indicating metres away that there are bumps ahead in order to avoid other series of accident that the bumps may cause.

“People would read spiritual meanings and play politics not minding lives are being lost. Why can’t we just be normal in this country?” he queried.