A tragic accident in the Epe area of Lagos State has left six worshippers dead after a truck loaded with sharp sand crashed into a church building. The incident occurred on Monday, January 12, 2026, at about 8:30 pm along Hospital Road.
Eyewitnesses Describe Scene of Horror
According to an eyewitness, Tinu Oduwale, the truck was descending the road towards a roundabout when its brakes suddenly failed. She explained that the driver lost control, honking repeatedly in a desperate attempt to warn others.
"The truck was descending towards the roundabout when the driver suddenly discovered that the brake was no longer working," Oduwale stated. "To avoid ramming into vehicles and people at the junction, he swerved and headed towards the building. Unfortunately, that was how the truck crashed straight into the church."
Narrow Escape for Many Church Members
Another resident, who gave his name as Sanjo, revealed that the evening service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) had just concluded. He noted that the casualty figure could have been significantly higher if the crash had happened earlier during the service.
"They had just finished service around that time. Some members had already left, while others were still inside the church, either praying or preparing to go home, when the truck rammed into the building," Sanjo said.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Emergency responders, including personnel from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other security agencies, were swiftly deployed to the scene. Distressing videos from Tuesday showed victims trapped under the truck as responders and residents worked frantically to unload sand from the vehicle to rescue them.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the grim details. "Six people died. The truck is unregistered, and the driver was nowhere to be found," Adebisi said. He added that the remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue and that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
It was further gathered that the driver of the truck fled the scene immediately after the crash, leaving behind a community in mourning and a trail of unanswered questions about vehicle safety on Nigerian roads.
