Police hunt hit-and-run driver over killing of travellers in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has initiated a manhunt to fish out a suspected hit-and-run driver who struck and killed two male travellers, identified as Yahaya Suleiman and Emeka, after knocking them off the overhead bridge at the Kara Market on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Our correspondent gathered on Tuesday that the incident occurred around 3:30 pm on Monday when the driver lost control of his vehicle and rammed into the three travellers who were waiting for a commercial bus.

PUNCH Metro also learnt that the third pedestrian, identified only as Ishola, is currently in the hospital fighting for his life.

Issa, a satchet water seller, who witnessed the incident, told our correspondent on Tuesday that the three pedestrians were struck by the driver, and two of them fell from the bridge due to the impact of the vehicle.

“The driver was speeding, and I think he lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the three people who were waiting by the roadside to board a bus. The impact of the hit knocked two of the three travellers off the bridge. The driver sped off immediately after,” Issa told PUNCH Metro.

The spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to our correspondent on Tuesday and revealed that Suleiman and Emeka, who were knocked off the bridge, died in the hospital.

She said, “They were taken to the Lagos State Emergency Clinic at the old toll gate in the Ojota area of Lagos State. The two travellers who fell off the bridge were confirmed dead minutes after they were rushed to the hospital.

“The driver was believed to have lost control of his vehicle before ramming into the three travellers who were waiting to board a vehicle on the bridge. The third traveller, Ishola, sustained serious injuries. He is still in the hospital.

“The corpses of the victims have been taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in the Sagamu area of Ogun State for preservation and autopsy. We are making efforts to trace the family of the deceased to inform them about the incident. We are also working on identifying and arresting the driver.”

When our correspondent contacted the spokesperson on Wednesday as a follow-up to the incident, Odutola assured the state police that they were not leaving any stone unturned to apprehend the fleeing suspect.

“I can assure you that we are doing everything within our powers to ensure that the suspect is brought to justice. We have capable officers in command. Just like our divisional police officer in Igbeba, who, despite being a woman, is doing exceptional work by combining intelligence to track criminals within her area, others, including those in Ojodu Abiodun, are making similar efforts. Our officers will track and arrest the suspect.

Between January and June 2024, at least four pedestrians were killed by suspected hit-and-run drivers on major highways in Ogun State.

In January 2024, a Nigerian Police Force Inspector named Bulus Joel was reportedly killed by a suspected hit-and-run driver on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Earlier this month, a 22-year-old traveller, Elizabeth James, was killed after being knocked down on the Sagamu-Benin Expressway.