January 14, 2026
By Micah Jonah
Six worshippers have been confirmed dead after a truck loaded with sharp sand crashed into a church building in the Epe area of Lagos State on Monday night.
The incident occurred at about 8.30pm along Hospital Road, where the truck reportedly lost control while descending towards a roundabout, rammed into the church premises.
Several other worshippers sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby hospitals, while emergency responders worked through the night to rescue victims trapped under the vehicle and piles of sand.
An eyewitness, Tinu Oduwale, said the truck’s brakes failed while approaching the junction, forcing the driver to swerve in an attempt to avoid vehicles and pedestrians.
According to her, the driver was shouting and repeatedly honking before the truck veered off the road and crashed straight into the church building.
Another resident, identified as Sanjo, said the worshippers had just concluded their evening service when the accident happened, adding that the casualty figure could have been higher if the crash had occurred earlier during the service.
He said some members had already left the church, while others were still inside praying or preparing to go home when the truck struck the building.
Videos from the scene showed emergency responders and residents unloading sand from the truck to reach victims trapped underneath, as security personnel cordoned off the area to manage the rescue operation.
It was gathered that the driver of the truck fled the scene shortly after the crash and is currently at large.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said six people lost their lives, adding that the truck involved was unregistered and the driver could not be found at the scene.
She said the remains of the deceased worshippers have been deposited in the morgue, while investigations are ongoing to track down the driver and determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
The tragedy has renewed concerns over the safety of heavy duty trucks on Lagos roads, particularly vehicles suspected to be in poor mechanical condition.
Only days earlier, another fatal accident was reported along the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, where a commercial driver and his assistant transporting live chicks died after their vehicle crashed into the median at the Oremeji area.
Residents, road users are calling on authorities to strengthen vehicle inspections, enforce roadworthiness regulations to prevent further loss of lives from avoidable accidents.
