Panic gripped commuters in Lagos this morning after a Dangote trailer carrying a 40-foot container fell off and landed on several vehicles at the busy Barracks bus stop along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “a nightmare,” with multiple cars trapped beneath the weight of the container.
Emergency responders and bystanders rushed to the scene immediately, attempting to rescue victims and clear the wreckage. While the number of casualties is yet to be confirmed, residents reported hearing screams from trapped passengers before security officials cordoned off the area.
The incident, which occurred during peak rush hour, left hundreds stranded as traffic on the Lagos-Badagry expressway came to a complete standstill. Commuters heading toward Mile 2, Trade Fair, and other adjoining routes faced hours-long delays as motorists diverted through inner streets to escape the gridlock.
Dangote trucks have long been under scrutiny due to their frequent involvement in fatal accidents across the country. Road safety advocates once again renewed calls for stricter regulation of heavy-duty trailers on Nigerian highways, stressing that “every container that falls is a potential mass grave.”
Photos from the scene show mangled cars pinned beneath the massive container, with shattered windscreens and twisted metal scattered across the road. Witnesses say it took combined efforts of LASTMA officials, police, and rescue teams to secure the site and begin recovery operations.
This tragedy comes barely weeks after another accident involving a trailer along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway claimed multiple lives, further fueling public anger over what many describe as the “unchecked menace” of container-laden trucks operating with little accountability.
Authorities have promised an investigation into the latest crash, but angry Lagosians insist words are no longer enough. “We don’t need condolences anymore. We need enforcement. We need accountability. How many more must die before something is done?” a witness lamented.
