Ojuelegba container crash: Police to probe removal of truck barrier on the bridge

The police have begun an investigation to unravel who authorised the removal of the barrier placed on the entrance of the Ojuelegba bridge to prevent trucks and heavy-duty vehicles from ascending the bridge.

The barrier was installed following a string of fatal accidents on the bridge last year.

The barrier had recently been removed, allowing trucks to resume ascending the bridge.

Recall that a truck conveying a 20ft container landed on top of a fully-loaded commercial bus on Sunday, crushing it with the passengers inside.

A total of nine bodies were retrieved from the bus in the accident that happened in the afternoon of Sunday, January 29, 2023.

The bus was said to be picking up passengers when the truck lost control and fell over the side of the bridge.

In a statement released, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said after suspending the container load with the aid of the Agency’s forklift and cutting off the top of the bus with light rescue equipment, a single adult woman was extricated alive and taken to the trauma centre.

He stated that the fatalities from the unfortunate incident include 4 adult males, 3 adult females, 1 boy child and 1 girl child.

He added that the Agency’s Ambulance, LASG FIRE, FED FIRE, LASTMA and Nigeria Police worked at the site of the incident.

”Further investigation to be carried out by the Nigeria Police on the removal of the barriers on the bridge aimed at preventing trucks from ascending,’ he said.