The Ogun State Police Command has launched a manhunt for a hit-and-run driver who killed two male travelers, Yahaya Suleiman, and Emeka, after knocking them off the overhead bridge at the Kara Market on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
According to the PUNCH, the incident happened around 3:30 pm on Monday when the driver lost control and struck the three travelers who were waiting for a commercial bus. A third pedestrian, Ishola, is in the hospital fighting for his life.
Issa, a sachet water seller who witnessed the event, said, “The driver was speeding, and I think he lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the three people who were waiting by the roadside to board a bus. The impact of the hit knocked two of the three travelers off the bridge. The driver sped off immediately after.”
Omolola Odutola, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, confirmed the incident and said that Suleiman and Emeka, who were knocked off the bridge, died in the hospital.
“They were taken to the Lagos State Emergency Clinic at the old toll gate in the Ojota area of Lagos State. The two travelers who fell off the bridge were confirmed dead minutes after they were rushed to the hospital,” Odutola said.
“The driver was believed to have lost control of his vehicle before ramming into the three travelers who were waiting to board a vehicle on the bridge. The third traveler, Ishola, sustained serious injuries. He is still in the hospital. The corpses of the victims have been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in the Sagamu area of Ogun State for preservation and autopsy. We are making efforts to trace the family of the deceased to inform them about the incident. We are also working on identifying and arresting the driver.”
On Wednesday, Odutola assured that the police are doing everything possible to find the suspect. “I can assure you that we are doing everything within our powers to ensure that the suspect is brought to justice. We have capable officers in command. Just like our divisional police officer in Igbeba, who, despite being a woman, is doing exceptional work by combining intelligence to track criminals within her area, others, including those in Ojodu Abiodun, are making similar efforts. Our officers will track and arrest the suspect.”
Between January and June 2024, at least four pedestrians were killed by suspected hit-and-run drivers on major highways in Ogun State. In January 2024, a Nigerian Police Force Inspector named Bulus Joel was killed by a suspected hit-and-run driver on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Earlier this month, a 22-year-old traveler, Elizabeth James, was killed after being knocked down on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.
