A tragic road crash in the Lekki area of Lagos on Sunday claimed the life of a nine-year-old boy and left four other children badly injured after a vehicle reportedly ran into them while allegedly being driven at high speed.
The incident occurred around 2:31pm along Wole Olateju Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, when a Lexus RX 300 jeep lost control and veered off the road, ramming into five children who were standing at the gate of a residence.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said preliminary findings indicated that overspeeding caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle before the fatal impact.
The children involved were said to be between eight and 13 years old.
Four of the victims sustained serious injuries and were rescued alive by sympathisers, who rushed them to a nearby hospital for urgent medical attention. The fifth child, a nine-year-old boy, was confirmed dead at the scene.
Officials disclosed that the crash happened at No. 1, Wole Olateju Crescent, Kingshisha, off Admiralty Road, within Eti-Osa Local Government Area.
The affected vehicle was later towed from the scene and taken to the Maroko Police Station for further action.
Police officers from the Maroko Division were said to have taken over the scene as investigations commenced into the circumstances surrounding the crash, including the identity of the driver.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed a separate rescue operation in the Apapa area, where two adult males were trapped inside a fuel tanker while carrying out repair work opposite a bank branch.
Firefighters promptly intervened and successfully rescued the two men alive before handing them over to medical responders for treatment at a hospital.
Authorities urged motorists to observe speed limits and drive responsibly to prevent avoidable tragedies on Lagos roads.