Families of the victims were pleading for blood donations as health workers battled to save them.
Another staffer of the state government who had a minor injury said, “David was sitting beside his mother when the accident occurred. Her mother was badly injured and is currently in the intensive care unit. He attends a school close to the state secretariat and he joins his mother every morning.”
One of the occupants of the bus who gave his name only as Chinedu said the driver struggled to move past the rail track but was unable to do so, adding that those who stood in the bus were the ones severely injured.
Another victim, Tijani Kazeem, who had a broken jaw, said he went unconscious the moment the incident happened.
He said, “No one expected that the train would meet us at that point. Besides, I didn’t notice anything. The train was already closed before we started hearing its horn, and the next thing I saw was that everything went blank.”
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the company of the state Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, and some other members of the State Executive Council also visited the hospital.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo, has directed an immediate and full investigation into the accident.
A statement by the ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Henshaw Ogubike, noted that the minister sympathised with the victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of those that died and quick recovery for the ones injured.
Also, the Nigerian Railway Police Command has effectively taken over the investigation into the incident as a result of the directive of the Minister of Transportation for a detailed investigation of the incident.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of Railway Command, Yetunde Longe, confirmed the arrest of the bus driver to The PUNCH.
The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau is also set to commence an investigation into the accident as directed by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika.
The minister who gave the directive to the NSIB assured the public of the capacity of the bureau to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the accident and proffer ways to prevent a reoccurrence.
In a statement signed by the minister’s Special Assistant on Public Affairs, James Odaudu, he commiserated with the government and people of Lagos state, especially those who have lost their loved ones, while he prayed for the quick recovery of those injured in the accident.
The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) expressed sympathy over the accident.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said, “The accident at the level crossing involving the train and the BRT staff bus is distressing and extremely sad.
“I pray for the souls of the deceased and quick recovery of the many who were injured.”
Reacting, the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, called for prayers for the families of the victims and ordered for all flags to be flown at half-mast.
“Lagos is in a state of mourning and for the next three days, I am suspending all campaign activities. All flags will be flown at half mast and tomorrow (Friday) all civil servants will work till noon before returning home to be with their loved ones during this trying time.
On his part, President-elect and former governor of the state, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, condoled with the victims and promised to monitor the situation with the necessary support
“My thoughts are with them and with the Lagos State Government, even as I continue to follow the emergency response efforts closely and offer support, where necessary, to ensure that survivors and others involved receive the best care,” he tweeted.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, in a tweet called for appropriate measures to be put in place to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.
(Punch)
