Hit-and-Run Leaves elderly man seriously injured in Lagos

By Adebola Muili

An elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was seriously injured after he was knocked down by a vehicle whose driver fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at about 2:10 p.m., leaving Bello with severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, after he was found lying by the roadside.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency’s LRT Lion Squad stationed at Agbowa was dispatched to the scene following a distress call and arrived within 10 minutes.

According to him, preliminary assessment by LASEMA paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries, prompting the agency to activate its medical support protocol and contact the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) to convey him for definitive medical treatment.

Personnel from LASEMA, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force were also deployed to the scene to ensure safety as response and recovery operations continued.

In a separate incident later in the afternoon, an empty gas truck rammed into a road median at Palmgrove, inward Obanikoro, along Ikorodu Road.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the incident occurred at about 4:20 p.m., prompting the deployment of LASEMA’s LRT Cobra Team stationed at Onipanu, which arrived at the scene at about 4:26 p.m.

He said preliminary findings by the response team indicated that a mechanical fault arising from brake failure caused the driver to lose control of the truck while in motion.

No life was lost in the truck incident.

The Permanent Secretary said the Cobra Team, working with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and the Nigeria Police Force, immediately implemented traffic control measures to protect other road users and prevent secondary accidents.

He added that LASEMA deployed its heavy-duty equipment, Super Metro, to assist a private tow truck in recovering the affected vehicle and restoring normal traffic flow.

Oke-Osanyintolu commended the Lion and Cobra teams, as well as the collaborating agencies, for their swift and professional response to the two incidents.

He also sympathised with the victim of the hit-and-run and urged motorists to obey traffic regulations, conduct regular maintenance checks on their vehicles and demonstrate responsibility towards other road users.

The Permanent Secretary further encouraged members of the public to report emergencies promptly through the toll-free 767 and 112 emergency lines for immediate response.