Tragedy at Isheri Market: Trailer Crash Claims One Life, Injures Several

A Normal Morning Turned Disaster

It was just another morning at Isheri Market, a busy hub near OPIC bus stop along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Traders had begun setting up, commuters were rushing to their destinations, and a local tea vendor was serving his regulars.

Then, chaos struck.

A trailer, reportedly suffering brake failure, lost control and plowed through the market stalls, leaving one person dead and several others injured.

Eyewitnesses Recall the Horror

A motorcyclist, who narrowly escaped the crash, painted a vivid picture of the moment disaster unfolded:

“While I was at OPIC bus stop roundabout, a container truck coming from Lagos reached the stop. There was no traffic, but suddenly, I saw the driver struggle with the brakes. He tried to avoid crashing into the estate gate, swerved to the right, and then—boom—straight into the market!”

The impact was devastating.

Lives Changed in an Instant

The only confirmed fatality was a local tea vendor, who had been serving customers as he always did.

One of the injured victims, a night security guard, shared his terrifying close call:

“I had just taken my first sip of tea when I heard the loud noise. I got up, but the truck hit me, and I fell. It’s God that saved me—I fell to the right side. If I had gone the other way, I’d be dead too. The man who was serving me tea didn’t survive.”

The total number of injured persons is yet to be confirmed, but the trauma remains fresh and raw for those who witnessed it.

What Saved Others from a Worse Fate?

Eyewitnesses say two parked vehicles—a van and a Sienna—helped reduce the impact, slowing the trailer down and preventing more casualties.

“If those vehicles hadn’t been parked there, more people would have died,” a trader remarked.

Authorities Step In

Emergency responders and local authorities rushed to the scene, clearing the wreckage and assessing the damage.

Meanwhile, the trailer driver has been arrested and is now in the custody of the Isheri Tactical Unit as investigations begin.

A Bigger Issue Than Just One Crash

Sadly, incidents like this are becoming more common on Nigerian highways, where poor vehicle maintenance and reckless driving turn roads into death traps.

Will this tragedy spark change, or will it be just another statistic?

For now, a family mourns, a community grieves, and the nation watches.