Man killed by hit-and-run motorists

Some residents of the Olopomeji end of
Oworonshoki Expressway, Lagos State
on Monday cried after one of them,
identified only as Emmanuel, was
crushed by a vehicle while attempting to
cross the expressway.
PUNCH Metro learnt that after the
deceased was knocked down by the
vehicle, other oncoming vehicles
heading towards the Third Mainland
Bridge also ran over him.
It was learnt that the corpse was left on
the road for hours until emergency
officials arrived the scene.
When our correspondent visited the
scene, relatives of the deceased were
seen crying while the corpse was being
conveyed into an ambulance.
Our correspondent also observed a
pedestrian bridge about 60 metres from
where the incident occurred.
Residents, however, blamed the
government over the incident.
PUNCH Metro had reported on June 11,
2013 that the Chairman, Kosofe Local
Government, Lagos State, Mr.
Babatunde Sofola, ordered the sealing
of the pedestrian bridge due to its
derelict state.
It had also been reported that the
bridge, which was constructed by the
Federal Government in the 1970s had
been in a state of disrepair for over two
years.
Speaking with our correspondent at the
scene on Monday, the General
Secretary, Council of Oworonshoki
Youth Forum, Babajide Kabiawu,
described Emmanuel’s death as an
avoidable tragedy.
He said the deceased, who was also his
friend, was not married and his mother
was an employee of the state
government.
He added that it was because of the
dilapidated state of the bridge that the
deceased resorted to crossing the road.
He said at least four others had been
injured recently while attempting to
cross the expressway.
He said the condition of the bridge was
regrettable, as the community had made
representations to the government
without getting results.
He said, “In 2011, when we lodged
complaints about this bridge, a
representative of the Federal Ministry of
Works, South West Zone, was here. He
promised to write a report to the
headquartres in Abuja. But it is
saddening that up till now, nothing has
been done about it. Is it when lives are
involved that they will be bothered?’’
When contacted on the telephone, the
assistant Police Public Relations Officer,
Damasus Ozoani, confirmed
Emmanuel’s death to our
correspondent.
“The incident occurred around 4am on
Monday. No vehicle was identified but
the corpse has been recovered,” he said.

Some residents at the scene