Sunday Morning Accident: Residents Decry Army Checkpoints as LASTMA Confirms 8 Dead in Ghastly Lagos-Badagry Expressway Crash

By Peter Dansu  There was mourning in Badagry on Sunday morning as eight lives were tragically lost in a devastating accident involving a c...

By Peter Dansu 

There was mourning in Badagry on Sunday morning as eight lives were tragically lost in a devastating accident involving a commercial bus and a DAF truck along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. The incident occurred at the Atura Bus Stop area, with residents pointing fingers at what they described as indiscriminate and illegal checkpoints along the busy highway.

According to eyewitnesses, the fatal crash happened when the driver of an 18-seater bus reportedly lost control and rammed into a truck that had suddenly been stopped by soldiers manning a checkpoint. Many residents and road users who spoke at the scene blamed the military for mounting what they called “a dangerous and unregulated roadblock,” which they said contributed to the deadly collision.

“We’ve been complaining for a long time about these military checkpoints,” said one resident. “They stop vehicles without warning, and this has led to too many close calls. Unfortunately, today, it has taken lives.”

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) confirmed the incident and said eight passengers, including the bus driver and his conductor, died on the spot. A total of 16 people were onboard the bus, which had registration number KJA 811 YF. The DAF truck involved bore the plate number T1 4636 LA.

In an official statement, LASTMA described the crash as “catastrophic,” adding that officers from its team, alongside personnel from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Police (Morogbo Division), and the Nigerian Army’s 244 Battalion in Ibereko, responded swiftly to the scene.

Their rescue efforts led to the successful evacuation of eight injured survivors, who were rushed to the General Hospital in Badagry for emergency treatment.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the bus was traveling at high speed when the accident occurred. While LASTMA placed part of the blame on reckless driving, locals insist that the sudden stop caused by the checkpoint created a dangerous bottleneck on the expressway.

General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, who visited the site shortly after the incident, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the grieving families.

“This is a tragic reminder of how precious and fragile life is,” he said. “No journey should end this way. I pray for strength for the families of the deceased and quick recovery for the injured.”

Mr. Bakare-Oki also used the opportunity to caution commercial drivers against speeding and urged them to adhere strictly to road safety regulations.

“Speed is a silent killer,” he warned. “We must all play our part in making our roads safer—drivers, passengers, and authorities alike.”

He noted that LASTMA is shifting its focus from just traffic control to comprehensive incident management, in line with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which emphasizes proactive safety measures and swift emergency response.

“We are not just managing traffic anymore. We’re saving lives and preventing disasters,” he added.

To that end, he revealed that speed-limiting devices are being installed in key accident-prone areas across Lagos as part of broader government efforts to curb road fatalities.

While commending the swift response of all the agencies involved in Sunday’s rescue effort, LASTMA again appealed to all road users to remain cautious, aware, and law-abiding.

As the investigation into the exact cause of the crash continues, public outrage grows over the presence of military checkpoints on civilian roads. Many are now calling on authorities to review their operations and consider safer methods of maintaining security without compromising road safety.

For now, Badagry mourns the avoidable loss of eight precious lives—and hopes for a future where tragedies like this are no longer a routine headline.

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