Lagos witnessed a devastating Thursday as separate incidents claimed five lives, including four in a major highway accident on the Kara Bridge and one in a building collapse in Apapa.

Multiple Crash on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Claims Four

A multiple-vehicle collision involving five trucks on the Kara Bridge led to a tragic accident early Thursday morning. Preliminary reports from the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) indicate that mechanical failure and reckless driving caused the pile-up.

The crash involved a mini-truck, a heavy-duty long truck, a 40-foot containerized trailer, a truck carrying sardines, and a tow truck. During the collision, one of the tractor heads detached from its trailer and plunged into the lagoon, trapping the driver and his assistant.

Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, confirmed that four adult males, including a police officer, lost their lives. Two died at the scene, while the other two were pronounced dead at the hospital. The incident caused severe gridlock on the expressway, with emergency teams working to clear the wreckage.

One Dead in Apapa Building Collapse

In a separate tragedy, one person died and eight others were rescued after a three-storey building under demolition collapsed in the Alayabiagba community of Ajegunle, Apapa.

LASEMA responders arrived to find the structure completely collapsed, trapping several workers. While eight adult males were successfully rescued and taken to the hospital, one victim could not be saved. The cause of the collapse is under investigation, though residents reported the structure gave way during manual demolition.

This incident follows another building collapse in Oyingbo on Monday, which also resulted in one fatality, highlighting ongoing concerns about building safety in the state.