According to eyewitnesses, the truck was approaching the OPIC area from Lagos when the driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle.

Tragedy struck early Wednesday morning at the bustling Isheri Market near the OPIC bus stop along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when a container-laden truck reportedly suffered brake failure and crashed into the market, leaving one person dead, several others injured, and multiple properties destroyed.

According to eyewitnesses, the truck was approaching the OPIC area from Lagos when the driver appeared to lose control of the vehicle.

“While I was at the OPIC bus stop roundabout, a container coming from Lagos reached the OPIC bus stop.

“When he was coming, there was no traffic on the express, he didn’t have brakes when he tried to enter the estate, he then crashed into the market and killed a person,” recounted a motorcyclist who witnessed the incident, according to Channels TV.

Dismissing speculation that the truck may have been fleeing from a pursuer, the eyewitness added, “No one was chasing him, it’s only him that was coming.”

In a desperate attempt to avoid slamming into the estate’s gate, the driver reportedly swerved to the right, veering off the road and plowing through several market stalls. 

The crash left a trail of destruction in its wake, shattered stalls, injured traders, and panicked bystanders.

The only confirmed fatality was a local tea vendor who was serving customers at the time of the crash. 

A night security guard at the market, who narrowly escaped death, reportedly described the harrowing moment.

“I’m the security man of this place. Every morning, I sit with my people before they open for the day because I work at night," he said.

“I had just called the tea seller to give me tea, and I had only tasted it once when I heard loud noises. 

“I stood up, and the truck pushed me and I fell. It’s God that saved me that I fell to the right side, assuming I followed the other side I would have died. The man who gives me tea is the one who died.” 

As of press time, the exact number of injured persons remains unconfirmed.

Eyewitnesses credited two parked vehicles, a van and a Toyota Sienna, with reducing the severity of the incident. 

The vehicles, stationed directly in front of the market, reportedly absorbed part of the impact, slowing the truck and likely preventing more casualties.

Emergency services and local authorities responded swiftly, cordoning off the area to facilitate rescue operations and assess the extent of the damage. 

It was gathered that the truck driver was arrested at the scene and is currently in the custody of the Isheri Tactical Unit as investigations continue. 

Despite repeated calls for stricter regulations on heavy-duty vehicles and more rigorous inspections, enforcement remains lax, and poorly maintained trucks continue to pose significant risks on Nigerian roads.

With yet another life lost and several others affected, concerned citizens are once again urging government agencies to enforce safety standards and ensure that only roadworthy vehicles are allowed to ply major highways.