Panic and uncertainty spread through the Ladipo area of Lagos on the morning of Thursday, August 7, after a train coach detached from the rest of the train while it was moving along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.
The incident, which occurred around 8 a.m., disrupted traffic and alarmed both pedestrians and nearby motorists.
It caused a significant delay in train movement, lasting more than 30 minutes.
The train, which had departed from Ogba Ayo in Ogun State and was heading toward Apapa in Lagos, unexpectedly lost one of its rear compartments along the busy expressway.
Witnesses described the moment as chaotic, with people expressing shock and fear as the detached coach came to a halt on the tracks.
An eyewitness, who was near the scene when the incident happened, said the event created widespread panic.
“It was sudden and frightening. People were really confused, but luckily, no one was hurt,” he said.
The detachment caused immediate concern among onlookers, many of whom feared a more serious accident might occur.
The Ladipo area, notorious for its daily traffic congestion and complex transport activity, has seen a number of transport related incidents in recent years.
The latest episode has once again highlighted the pressing need for enhanced railway safety protocols and better infrastructure maintenance, especially in densely populated urban corridors.
Emergency services reportedly responded quickly to the scene, helping to restore order and redirect traffic that had started to back up due to the obstruction.
Their rapid response helped to prevent further chaos in an already busy area.
Authorities have not yet released an official statement about the exact cause of the detachment.
However, experts in the transportation sector are calling for an immediate investigation into the mechanical failure.
They emphasize that regular inspections and proper maintenance are crucial to preventing such potentially dangerous situations in the future.
