Tragedy in Lagos: Falling Container Kills Police Officer and passenger

In a heartbreaking accident that has shaken the nation, a police officer and a female passenger were crushed to death yesterday, the 23rd of September, 2025, at Ijora. Vanguard Newspaper reported that the 40-foot container-laden truck overturned on a commercial tricycle at Ijora Causeway, inward Ijora 7Up

The report had it that the incident occurred beneath the Ijora Bridge. The vehicles involved include a truck registered as XP 368 AKD and a Keke Napep (tricycle) marked KJA 364 QN.

Preliminary reports from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, suggest the accident may have been caused by the truck losing control while trying to manoeuvre and fell on the tricycle carrying four passengers. Two of the passengers survived with injuries, while the other passengers (which included a police officer) died instantly.

In a statement issued yesterday, Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, said the agency’s emergency responders, supported by LASAMBUS (Lagos State Ambulance Service), police officers, and other personnel, rescued the survivors and immediately transported them to Jimsan Hospital in Gasikiya, Ijora, for immediate treatment.

It was gathered that the police officer’s remains were conveyed to the Yaba Mortuary, while the female victim’s family collected her body from the scene.

This isn’t the first time a container has claimed lives in Lagos. In 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023. A significant incident in 2015 saw multiple casualties, with 14 Olabisi Onabanjo University students confirmed dead when a container fell on their bus, and another incident at Ojuelegba killing a Bureau de Change operator and his friends. Yet, safety reforms have been slow.

Every day, thousands of Nigerians, drivers, police, businessmen and women, students, stevedores etc, risk their lives on Nigeria’s roads. Today, two of them paid the ultimate price.