A serious collision between a moving train and a commercial bus in Lagos on Monday night sent shockwaves through the Arena area of Oshodi, but miraculously resulted in no loss of life.
Chaotic Scene at Oshodi Railway Crossing
The incident, which occurred on the evening of Monday, December 24, 2025, involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number AGL-671-XR. According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the collision happened as the bus was exiting the Arena shopping complex and ventured onto the railway tracks.
Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, stated that the agency received distress calls at approximately 7:53 p.m. The State's Emergency Response Plan was swiftly activated from the LASEMA Cappa Base in Oshodi.
Reckless Driving Blamed for Near-Tragedy
Preliminary investigations by the emergency response team, which arrived at the scene by 8:11 p.m., pointed to reckless driving by the bus driver as the immediate cause. The driver was attempting to cross the tracks when an oncoming train struck the vehicle, leaving it badly damaged and stuck on the rails.
"Fortunately, no casualties nor mortality were recorded as a result of the incident," LASEMA's report emphatically confirmed. This fortunate outcome prevented what could have been a major disaster.
Swift Response and Restoration of Normalcy
The crash, however, inflicted significant damage to the white Toyota Hiace bus due to the force of the impact. The LASEMA team conducted a thorough risk assessment on-site and implemented necessary safety measures to prevent any secondary incidents.
Key steps in the recovery operation included:
- Temporarily halting train operations to allow for a safe recovery process.
- Successfully extracting the wrecked bus from the railway tracks.
- Towing the recovered vehicle to the LASTMA yard in Oshodi for further action.
The agency confirmed that the rail track was subsequently cleared and normal train activities were fully restored, marking the conclusion of a successful recovery operation. The swift action by LASEMA and LASTMA personnel ensured the situation was brought under control efficiently, averting prolonged disruption and potential further danger.
