18th November, 2013
The Nigerian police has clarified the tragedy that led to the unprecedented five-hour blockade of the Lekki Epe Expressway, one of the busiest roads in the Lagos metropolis today.
In a statement today, the Lagos police spokesperson Ngozi Braide explained that one school pupil was killed by a speeding water truck, at Ikota, contrary to the story that three pupils were crushed to death. She said two other pupils, believed to have also died were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.
Below is her full statement:
“Today being, November 8, 2013 at about 8am, Ajah Police Division received a distress call that there was a fatal motor accident. The DPO in company with the DTO raced to the scene. On getting there, they discovered that it was an accident involving one Blue Mercedez water tanker(truck) with number plate XZ87JJJ and a black Toyota Prado SUV, marked CB690AKD.
“Preliminary enquiry conducted showed that while the Prado SUV gave way for the school pupils to cross the road, the water tanker ran into the kids, killing one of them instantly while two were injured and currently receiving treatment in the hospital.
“Based on the foregoing, the residents, youths and indigenes got infuriated and barricaded the Lekki-Ajah expressway. They attributed their grievance to incessant accidents and lack of a pedestrian bridge, which they had been asking for.
“The situation was later brought under control as the Area commander intervened and appealed to them not to take laws into their hands which they obliged and left the road at about 1.30pm.
“Meanwhile the area is calm and quiet now.”