The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that two students died, while 12 others were injured when a truck rammed into some pedestrians on Tuesday at Ojodu area of the state. Unconfirmed reports said on Tuesday 17 students lost their lives in the in the incident which occurred at Grammar School bus stop near Berger.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Lagos Police Command spokesperson, Adekunle Ajisebutu, two male pupils died
Ajisebutu explained that the incident occurred around 2:15 pm when a DAF truck with Registration No. APP 438 YA driven by one Bolaji Kabiru rammed into some pedestrians later identified as students of Bab Fafunwa Millennium School, Ojodu formerly Ojodu Grammar School.
The statement read: “As a result of the accident, two males died on the spot, seven female and five male, totalling twelve victims sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“Traffic personnel from the Motor Traffic Department of the Ojodu Police Division immediately visited the scene. Corpses of the dead students (identity not yet known) were evacuated with the support of officers of the FRSC and were deposited at the Morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy,” he said.
According to the PPRO, the injured victims were taken to God’s Apple City Hospital, Ojodu Berger; St. Michael Hospital, Ojodu; and the Lagos State Emergency Hospital, Toll Gate respectively while the errant driver is currently in police custody.
The statement added: “However, the angry students who were later joined by hoodlums set the accidented vehicle ablaze. They also attacked the Ojodu Police Station in their large number, demanding the release of the driver for jungle justice.
“However, when their demand was not met, they became violent. In the process, they destroyed four vehicles parked in the premises of the police station and another mobile truck on the highway.
“To avoid total breakdown of law and order, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, immediately ordered deployment of policemen comprising tactical teams, Rapid Response Squad and others to the scene to maintain law and order.
The protesters were professionally dispersed with minimum force without resulting to any further injury.”
The police commiserated with the bereaved families, even as they sued for peace while the police carry out a thorough investigation into the matter