Tragedy struck in the Alapere area of Lagos State on Monday as a dispatch rider was crushed to death by a speeding tanker, triggering unrest among fellow riders at the scene.
The fatal incident, which occurred in the Motorways Inward Estate axis, involved an empty tanker belonging to NIPCO with registration number TTN-776ZQ.
The tanker was said to have rammed into the rider while he was in motion, killing him instantly.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the development, attributing the crash to excessive speed by the tanker driver.
The situation reportedly escalated shortly after the accident, as angry dispatch riders descended on the driver, attempting to lynch him in retaliation for the fatal crash.
However, officials of LASTMA swiftly intervened, preventing further violence.
The agency said its operatives acted promptly and professionally to rescue the severely injured driver from the mob before handing him over to the Lagos State Ambulance Service for urgent medical attention.
Taofiq noted that the timely response of traffic officials helped avert a breakdown of law and order, while operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Alausa Division, were also deployed to restore calm in the area.
Reacting to the incident, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, commiserated with the family of the deceased and warned motorists, particularly tanker drivers, against reckless driving.
He stressed that speeding and negligence remained major contributors to road fatalities, urging all road users to exercise caution and prioritise safety.
Authorities said the tanker and the mangled motorcycle had been taken into police custody, while investigations into the crash were ongoing.
The incident adds to growing concerns over road safety, coming barely 24 hours after a separate crash in Ogun State claimed the lives of three persons, including a child, along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway.