Two Die, Many Injured As Governor's Convoy Causes Accident In Lagos

Two persons were killed on Wednesday, while no fewer than nine others were injured after a truck rammed into pedestrians at the U-turn end of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The truck was said to be avoiding a government convoy of seven vehicles that allegedly drove recklessly into the expressway from a side road.

The incident was said to have occurred between 11am and 12noon yesterday.

An eyewitness said the convoy had stopped to visit a yet-to-be identified person admitted at a private hospital in the area.

A witness, who requested anonymity said: "It was a convoy of about seven vehicles. There were four jeeps and three escort vans. The escorts were riot policemen."

"On their way back, while connecting the express, the convoy caused the accident. They drove into the expressway recklessly without stopping to check for oncoming vehicles."

"At the time they connected the expressway, a tipper was approaching on top speed. To avoid hitting the convoy, the tipper swerved to the right side of the road. It lost control and rammed into a pedestrians standing by the side of the road."

The eyewitness said 11 persons were hit, while two died on the spot. It was learnt that the convoy did not wait initially, but went to make a U-turn to the other side of the expressway.

It was learnt that the convoy later stopped few metres opposite the scene of the accident.

The eyewitness said: "The riot policemen came down, they watched the scene for a while, jumped into their vehicles and proceeded towards the Sango area of Ogun State."

Eyewitnesses were unsure of the govt the convoy belonged to.

Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Mr. Yusup Olayniyonu, said, the Governor and his deputy were at Abeokuta. "Neither was in Lagos today (Wed.)".

Lagos State Commissioner for information &Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, said no Lagos government convoy went to the area.