Outrage as train crushes four to death in 2018

There are concerns over cases of train crushing people to death in Lagos with no fewer than four cases recorded so far in 2018 alone.

The incidents happened in succession close to the Ikeja Local Government Secretariat along the busy LagosAbeokuta expressway.

The first incident happened on February 13, 2018 when a man identified through his identity card as a PhD student of University of Lagos studying Economics was crushed to death. He was reportedly dismembered from the incident.

On March 8, a train cut a lady, said to be a corps member, into two. The victim was allegedly pressing her phone with her earphone attached while the train was moving.

On May 17, an unidentified man also crushed by a train. Reports said the man was hanging on the train before he fell and was crushed by the same train at Ikeja along.

An official of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Yes, there was another one last week but I can’t really confirm the identity of the victim. But it happened at Ikeja along as usual. That is why we are concerned and you too should probe into this. What is wrong at Ikeja that train is crushing people?”

When contacted, the Director of Operations of NRC, Mr. Niyi Ali said he was not aware of the trend but said he would get an update from the safety team of the corporation if there has been a trend in that axis with a view to investigating it.

He also said the problem must have been caused by trespassing as no individual is expected to be on the train track at all.