A routine night patrol by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) turned tragic on Wednesday after a motorboy was crushed to death while attempting to stabilise a moving truck at the Ogolonto traffic intersection, inward Ikorodu Roundabout.
According to a statement from the agency’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, Adebayo Taofiq, the accident occurred when the truck reportedly suffered brake failure. In an effort to manage the situation, the motorboy stepped out of the moving vehicle to place a wooden plank under its tyres. He slipped in the process, fell under the rear wheels, and died instantly.
LASTMA operatives from the Special Night Gang Patrol Team quickly secured the scene, preventing further accidents and ensuring the safety of other commuters. The driver was apprehended and handed over to officers of the Ipakodo Police Division, while the motorboy’s remains were taken to the Ikorodu General Hospital morgue.
General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as a painful and needless loss, noting that it reflected the dangerous consequences of mechanical neglect and poor vehicle maintenance. He commiserated with the deceased’s family and reinforced the state government’s determination to enforce strict road safety measures across Lagos.
Bakare-Oki reiterated that Lagos would intensify its enforcement and public sensitisation campaigns, working closely with security agencies to reduce preventable road tragedies. The incident adds to a series of recent fatal crashes involving trucks within the region, underscoring growing concerns about heavy-duty vehicle safety standards on Nigerian roads.
