Chaos erupted in Lagos on Friday when a trader was struck and killed by a Lagos-Ibadan train near Oshodi. The incident occurred around 2 p.m., drawing crowds of onlookers to the scene.
Eyewitnesses reported that the trader was crushed in front of the Arena Shopping Complex. The man, believed to be middle-aged, was standing on the tracks while urinating and wearing earphones. Despite the train’s loud horn and bystanders shouting warnings, he failed to hear due to the earphones.
Passers-by, who gathered around the body, speculated that the man’s failure to heed the warnings led to his death. One witness identified the deceased as a trader who operated at the Moyosore shopping complex. He was reportedly on the phone with three others who managed to hear the train’s horn and quickly ran off, while the man remained on the tracks.
The body was left in front of his closed shop as efforts were made to notify his family. The police were called to remove the body while authorities attempted to contact relatives.
The incident highlights a recurring issue in Lagos, where human activities along the train tracks, especially in areas like Agbado, Agege, Ikeja, and Oshodi, have led to numerous accidents. Traders often display their goods on the tracks, only moving them at the last moment, putting their lives at risk.
A source from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) confirmed the accident but stated that the victim’s identity was still unknown. As of press time, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Hundeyin, had not responded to inquiries.
