Bus crushes street traders at Obalende

Paul Iyoghojie

Two men and two women believed to be street traders were injured on Monday at Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos when a 27-seater LT bus rammed into street traders at about 10pm.

The driver of the bus, it was learnt, escaped with his bus towards the Onikan Bridge to avoid being lynched by an angry mob.

Witnesses told our correspondent on Tuesday that the driver drove dangerously from the Obalende roundabout towards the P&T roundabout, Moloney before he lost control opposite the Ajah motor park and rammed into traders selling on the road.

Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Ambulance Services later came with their ambulance with registration number 14A83-LA to evacuate the injured to the hospital.

Those who spoke on the accident blamed the street traders for ignoring government directive banning street trading.

”The traders are to blame for the accident. They have occupied one lane of the road leaving only one lane for the vehicles. This is not good. The government should come and clear them away,” akiosk owner who identified herself as Mama Segun said.

A resident of Obalende, Abdul Tiamiyu said the street traders usually trooped out to occupy the major road after the KAI brigade officials had closed for duty.

They appealed to KAI brigade Marshal General to direct his men to ensure street traders do not display their wares on the road again between the Ikeja and Ajah motor park axis to avoid accident and death.

They also praised the officials of Lagos State Emergency Ambulance Service for their prompt response to the accident.