- A male pedestrian met a gruesome end in the Ayetoro area of Epe after being crushed by a Dangote truck while attempting to cross the road through a culvert to reach the other side.
- The incident has triggered intense grief and anger among local residents, marking the second time in just one week that a heavy-duty vehicle has caused a fatal accident in the same vicinity.
- Following the tragic event, authorities arrived at the scene to recover the victim’s remains, while the community renewed its urgent call for a total ban on trucks passing through the residential axis.
Tragedy struck the Ayetoro area of Epe, Lagos State, once again as a fast-moving Dangote truck crushed a male pedestrian, sparking fresh outrage among residents over the recurring fatalities involving heavy-duty vehicles in the community.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the victim, whose identity is yet to be formally confirmed, was reportedly in the process of crossing the busy road.
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Eyewitness accounts suggest he was attempting to navigate through the culvert to reach the other side when the truck struck him, killing him instantly.
This latest incident comes as a bitter blow to a community still reeling from a similar horrific accident last week that claimed the lives of at least three people.
Shortly after the crash, authorities arrived at the scene to manage the situation and have since carried away the remains of the deceased.
The sight of the recovery operation further fueled the frustrations of onlookers who watched as another life was lost to the frequent truck traffic that plagues the area.
The recurring nature of these accidents has ignited a wave of criticism against local and state leaders.
Residents are questioning why the government has remained largely silent as the toll of truck-related deaths rises.
Many are calling for an immediate ban on heavy-duty trucks passing through residential and high-pedestrian areas like Ayetoro, suggesting that the frequent loss of life is a direct result of poor traffic management and the lack of dedicated routes for industrial vehicles.
Community members took to social media and local forums to vent their frustrations, with many arguing that the government’s current approach, which often involves settling hospital bills or burial costs, is a reactive “band-aid” solution.
They are demanding a shift toward prevention, such as the enforcement of restricted hours for truck movement, the installation of permanent barriers, and better utilization of tax revenues to create alternative routes away from the town center.
“Last week it was several people, and now this. We are tired,” one resident lamented. “Instead of just paying bills after the damage is done, can’t the government focus on prevention? There are better ways to use that money than paying for lives that could have been saved.”
The Ayetoro axis has become a flashpoint for such tragedies due to its proximity to the industrial expansion in the Epe and Lekki corridors, leading to a massive influx of heavy truck traffic.
As of the time of this report, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the police are expected to provide more details on the driver’s status and any pending safety measures for the Epe-Ayetoro road to prevent further loss of life.
