The distraught mother of the late Chidinma Ajoku, a staffer of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) who died alongside her colleague Chima on Sunday July 26 after a 20ft container fell on a commercial bus, has cried out for immediate justice and put an end to the countless deaths of Lagosians on the roads by reckless truck drivers.
The 20ft container was said to have fallen off a moving truck at Ilasa, along the Oshodi-Apapa expressway, and landed on the bus conveying eight passengers.
While other six passengers were said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries, 27 years old Chidinma and Chima were unfortunately killed.
Chidinma, a graduate of Babcock University, Ogun State and her colleague were said to be returning home from work when their lives were snatched at their prime.
Reacting to the untimely death of her first daughter in a video that has since gone viral on social media, the mother bemoaned, “We were told that driver of the commercial bus in which my daughter and her colleague were, stopped to either pick or drop passengers at Ilasa bus-stop when a reckless trailer driver on high speed fell on the bus.”
Continuing, she said, “I was waiting for her to return home. I dialed her number, but no response. I called her aunt whom she stayed with at Surulere. Both of us didn’t sleep until 6am when a colleague of hers called me to say they were involved in an accident and that they were at the Isolo General Hospital.”
“When we got there, we were told they were not among those brought in. We were referred to the government hospital, Yaba. When we got there, they told us to go and check the morgue. My friend’s husband and my sons went to check the morgue, only to find my daughter and her colleague bodies.”
She said as she sniffled, “This incident of container falling on vehicles is getting too much. These container drivers keep killing people and nobody is talking.
“My daughter was just 27 years and had plans to travel abroad for her Masters in the near future only to have life snuffed out of such a promising girl and her colleague,” she
While the wailings of other mourners could be heard in the background of the video, the grieving mother appealed, “I appeal to the authority concerned to bring these people to book. The government should do something because it is getting too much especially in Lagos.
“I remember there was a time when these trucks were virtually off the road in the day and were only allowed at night. Now, they are everywhere, driving recklessly. I don’t know what they drink while driving which makes them fall on cars. There had been several similar cases that happened and nothing was done to bring justice to the victims.
“But my daughter’s can’t go just like that. If my daughter’s case will be used to stop these unwarranted killings, then, let it be what I have achieved. I know they will say I am a nobody. But I think everybody in Lagos, whether you have a car or not, our lives are in danger because we encounter these trailers and containers every day because they are very reckless. We should champion this course together. We should not wait until more persons are killed”.
The devastated mum, who decried that she lost her husband about a year and some months ago, has been reminded of her griefs yet again.
She, therefore, demanded for justice, “I sent a cousin to the Ilasa police station and the Police said they could not trace owner of the truck. We were told that the driver and conductor took off with the truck’s particulars. Again, we were told that owner of the truck called to say he was coming. But nothing has been heard so far. All I demand is justice for my late daughter.”
