A tragic accident in Lagos’ Onipanu area on Saturday evening turned into chaos when a speeding driver ran over and killed a pedestrian, leading to a violent mob attack. The driver narrowly escaped lynching, while the car involved was set ablaze by enraged locals.
The incident occurred around 8:30 pm on Awoyokun Road, inward Onipanu. Eyewitnesses say the driver of a Toyota Venza, with the registration number EKY 839 HU, was speeding when the vehicle collided with a pedestrian, causing his immediate death.
The Reaction of the Authorities
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the details of the incident. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, shared the agency’s findings. “Preliminary investigations showed that the driver was speeding when he lost control and struck a male pedestrian,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
The victim, who remains unidentified, was pronounced dead on the scene, and his body was removed before emergency responders arrived. Oke-Osanyintolu highlighted the further complications caused by the mob. “The situation escalated when miscreants vandalized the vehicle and set it on fire. Our team had to act swiftly to recover the car,” he added.
A Call for Calm as Police Arrive
The anger of the crowd led to a tense situation as the mob continued to agitate. LASEMA’s Cobra Response Team worked alongside the Nigerian Police Force, who were called to restore order. Armed officers arrived to calm the situation and ensure the safe removal of the car from the scene.
“The police did a good job by stepping in and taking control of the crowd,” Oke-Osanyintolu noted. “They made sure that the situation didn’t spiral further out of control.”
After the police arrived and secured the area, the vehicle was successfully recovered, and normalcy was restored to the Onipanu area.
Fatalities and the Dangers of Speeding
This accident highlights the ongoing concerns over speeding and road safety in Lagos. Local authorities and residents have long called for stricter enforcement of traffic laws to prevent such incidents. With a growing population and increasing traffic congestion, accidents like this are becoming all too common, raising questions about the safety of pedestrians and the accountability of reckless drivers.
The death of the pedestrian and the violent aftermath have left the Onipanu community in shock. The disturbing events have once again highlighted the simmering tensions between local residents and reckless drivers who often disregard traffic laws in the rush to navigate Lagos’ crowded roads.
