A traffic gridlock ensued following the accident that saw several persons injured, with motorists going inward and outward Oshodi trapped for seven hours.
The accident, it was gathered occurred following attempt by driver of the truck with number plate AKD 964 XB to avoid ramming into a motorcyclist who was reportedly being chased by policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad, RRS.
?The RRS men are stationed along the Agege Motor road to effect the Lagos State traffic law on the ban of motorcyclists along the expressway. This particular motorcyclist decided to drive against traffic on noticing the RRS men on the other side of the road. But when they sighted him, they began to chase him. In the process, the Okada man decided to make a U-turn. Just at that point, the truck with a 20-footer container swerved to avoid crushing the motorcyclist, only for the container to fall off and land on the Eko
Meat van. Motorists who stopped tried to lift the container to rescue the occupants, but could not,? an eye witness who identified himself as Moshood Balogun said.
Some occupants of the Eko Meat van who survived the accident also gave an account of how it went down. They said that the policemen caught up with the fleeing motorcyclist and at the same time blocked the way with their van, apparently to prevent the commercial motorcyclist from escaping.
One of the survivors, Taiwo Rauf, a meat supplier, said: ?We were four inside the van. Two persons were sitting beside the driver while I sat behind. I used the van to supply meat at Oshodi from abattoir at Agege. We had already supplied the first batch and we were heading back to Agege for another round.
?While we were on our way, we saw a commercial motorcyclist riding against traffic with a female passenger. When the rider saw that the police were approaching, he turned to escape but the policemen caught up with him. Another police van emerged and
parked beside the first one.
?Our van which was coming from behind had no space to go forward, so we had to wait. At that point, the truck which was coming behind us was blaring its horn and an occupant, inside was shouting at the top of his voice ?no brake.?
?Before we knew what was happening, the truck hit our van and at the same time swerved to the culvert, only to crush a man to death. The driver of meat van was injured and was immediately rushed to the hospital by sympathizers. I can?t tell how I managed to come out of the van.?
Reports have it that an angry mob attempted to attack the policemen who they blamed for the accident, but they were dispersed by tear gas canisters from the policemen.
A male sympathizer who screamed after the deceased was brought out from under the trailer identified him as Belle, a manager in Slot.
Attempt by policemen from divisions under Area ?F?, Ikeja to control the traffic failed as the wreckage of the meat van and container blocked the road.
The evacuation of the container could not be completed till about 4.30pm, after officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, brought a crane.
Spokesman for LASTMA, Mrs Bola Ajao, when contacted, said LASTMA officials were on ground to control the traffic situation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr Tunde Shobulon, who visited the scene, reportedly claimed the meat van apparently drove against traffic, saying he was oblivious of the alleged involvement of policemen in the accident.
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