Tragedy has struck the Lagos State Civil Service following the death of Mrs. Serifat Talabi, a director who was killed in a hit-and-run accident just four days before her retirement and 60th birthday celebration.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Talabi, who served as the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASSRA), was knocked down by an unidentified driver on Saturday while attempting to cross the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.
A senior civil servant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying efforts to rush her to the hospital proved futile as she was pronounced dead on arrival.
“She was trying to cross the expressway when a speeding vehicle hit her.
The driver didn’t stop. We took her to the hospital, but she was confirmed dead,” the source said.
Further findings revealed that Talabi was due to retire on Monday, October 13, but her retirement ceremony was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to accommodate the agency’s General Manager, who was away at the time.
“She had already printed invitation cards for her retirement and 60th birthday celebration,” another source in the agency disclosed. “Everyone was looking forward to the event before this sad news.”
An invitation card sighted by PUNCH Metro showed that the celebration was scheduled to hold at the NERDC Conference Centre, Ikeja, adjacent to the Fela Shrine.
Meanwhile, burial arrangements released by her family indicate that a wake will be held on October 23, followed by the burial on October 24, both at her residence on Ore-Ofe Street, Ara Hall Bus Stop, Ibafo, Ogun State.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson for LASSRA, Mrs. Basirat Lawal, were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to her line went unanswered.
Similarly, Ogun State Police spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, did not respond to inquiries as of press time.
Talabi’s death adds to the growing list of pedestrians killed by hit-and-run drivers along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway and other major routes linking Lagos and Ogun states.
In August, a motorcyclist and his passenger were also killed on the Ago-Iwoye–Ilisan Expressway after a truck rammed into their bike and fled the scene.