Black Tuesday on Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway: Six Lives Lost in Horrific Crash

Grief and anguish swept through the Ota axis of Ogun State on Tuesday February 17, as a devastating multiple-vehicle crash along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway claimed six lives and left three others battling for survival.

Global Mirror News gathered that the fatal collision involved a Mack tanker with registration number EKY 913 YH, a yellow Suzuki mini-bus marked SMK 16 YK, and a yellow TVS tricycle bearing AAA 840 QM.

Eyewitness accounts described a chaotic scene as the heavy-duty tanker reportedly rammed into the smaller commercial vehicles while travelling from Lagos toward Ota, crushing hopes and cutting short lives in an instant.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said nine passengers—seven males and two females—were involved in the crash.

According to him, three victims—two males and one female—sustained injuries, while six others—five males and one female—lost their lives in the tragic accident.

Global Mirror News reports that emergency responders, including operatives of TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), raced to the scene in a desperate bid to rescue survivors and clear the wreckage.

“The injured victims were taken to the State Hospital, Ota, while the deceased were deposited at the State Mortuary, Ifo,” Akinbiyi stated.

The mangled vehicles have since been evacuated to the Papa Oscar cage, while traffic, which was thrown into disarray following the crash, has been restored.

Tuesday’s tragedy once again highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving on one of the region’s busiest highways, leaving families shattered and communities in mourning.