A routine evening worship turned fatal in Epe, Lagos State, after a truck loaded with sharp sand lost control and rammed into a Redeemed Christian Church of God parish, killing six congregants and injuring others.
The crash occurred around 8:30pm on Monday along Hospital Road, moments after the parish concluded its service.
Residents said the truck veered off the road and tore through the church structure, trapping people who were still within the premises.
Eyewitness, Tinu Oduwale, recounted that the vehicle was descending a slope leading to a roundabout when its brakes reportedly failed.
“The driver was screaming for help and blaring the horn to warn people. He tried to divert the truck but it went straight into the church,” she explained.
Another resident, Sanjo, said the death toll would have been higher if the truck arrived minutes earlier.
“Most members had left already. A few stayed behind to pray or pack up. That was when the truck came in. If it had happened mid-service, it would have been catastrophic,” he said.
Operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other security agencies raced to the scene, joining residents to dig out victims buried under sand as the overturned vehicle blocked access to the building.
Footage from the scene showed frantic rescue efforts as responders battled to pull worshippers from beneath the wreckage.
The truck driver reportedly fled before help arrived.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said six persons were confirmed dead and their remains deposited in the morgue.
“The truck has no registration number, and the driver is currently on the run. Investigation into the crash is underway,” she said.