A commercial motorcycle rider has died, while two others sustained injuries after a speeding driver allegedly fleeing from police officers rammed into them on Liasu Road in the Idimu area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred on Saturday night during a police chase involving a vehicle suspected to be linked to internet fraudsters.
The driver reportedly lost control while attempting to escape from the pursuing officers, knocking down three motorcycle riders in the process. One of the victims died at the scene, while the other two were injured.
The driver and other occupants of the vehicle allegedly abandoned it and fled after the crash.
An eyewitness, identified simply as Wahab, said the vehicle was being pursued from the Ile-Iwe end of the road towards the Council bus stop when the incident happened.
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According to him, police officers travelling in a minibus attempted to stop the vehicle, but the occupants allegedly increased their speed and drove recklessly.
Wahab explained that the driver lost control and hit the motorcycle riders, killing one of them instantly. He added that the driver and other male occupants escaped from the vehicle and fled.
The vehicle was later towed to the nearest police station, while the injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The incident sparked a protest by commercial motorcycle operators along Powerline and Liasu roads, who stopped conveying passengers to demand justice for their colleague.
A resident, Titi Jayeoba, said the protest left many people stranded on Sunday as they struggled to find alternative transportation.
She explained that residents who depended on motorcycles to attend church and travel to other destinations faced difficulties because the available tricycles could not accommodate everyone. Some passengers also reportedly preferred motorcycles because tricycles could not reach their streets.
Normal activities later resumed in the area after the motorcycle operators returned to work in the evening.
The deceased rider was reportedly buried according to Islamic rites.
When contacted on Tuesday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said she was unaware of the incident but promised to provide further information.
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