Tragedy on Apapa–Oshodi Expressway: Dispatch Rider killed by tanker, driver flees 

Cityscope, Crime Diary

LAGOS, NIGERIA (NPA) — March 25, 2026: A dispatch rider lost his life in a fatal crash on the ever-busy Apapa–Oshodi Expressway in Lagos after being struck by a diesel-laden tanker truck. The driver fled the scene immediately after the accident, leaving chaos and grief in his wake.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) responded swiftly, securing the accident site under the Cele Bridge corridor. The tanker, bearing plate number RBC 38 XF, violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, trapping the rider beneath its weight. Eyewitnesses confirmed that the victim died instantly.

In a statement signed by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment at LASTMA, on Wednesday, officials stationed along the axis acted with precision, cordoning off the crash site with cones and caution tape to prevent secondary collisions and protect other commuters.

“The offending tanker was subsequently impounded by LASTMA officials, although the driver absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident,” the statement read.

Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division later reinforced security, taking custody of the deceased rider, the impounded tanker, and the damaged motorcycle for thorough investigation and prosecution. The remains of the victim were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba.

LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, describing the incident as deeply distressing. He urged the Police to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the root cause of the crash and ensure justice is served.