At least six worshippers lost their lives on Monday night after a truck loaded with sharp sand crashed into a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) building in the Epe area of Lagos State.
The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. along Hospital Road, shortly after the church had concluded its evening service. While many congregants had already left, some worshippers were still inside the auditorium praying and preparing to depart when the heavy-duty truck veered off the road and rammed into the structure.
Residents in the area said the truck lost control while descending a slope toward a nearby roundabout. An eyewitness, Tinu Oduwale, explained that the driver struggled to stop the vehicle after its braking system failed. According to her, the driver repeatedly honked and shouted to warn people as he attempted to avoid vehicles and pedestrians at the junction, but eventually crashed into the church.
Another resident, identified as Sanjo, said the victims were caught unawares while still inside the church. He noted that the casualty figure could have been much higher if the crash had occurred earlier during the service.
Emergency responders, including operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other security agencies, were deployed to the scene to carry out rescue operations. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for medical treatment.
The driver of the truck reportedly fled the scene after the crash. Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the truck involved was unregistered and that the driver was currently at large. She added that the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue, while investigations into the incident were ongoing
