A speeding driver struck and killed four schoolchildren on Wednesday afternoon of July 23, in Sowo Village, along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway in Ogun State.
As a result, residents launched a massive protest that blocked the highway and trapped hundreds of travellers for several hours.
According to reports, the tragic incident happened when a fast-moving vehicle veered off the road and crushed a group of pupils walking home from school.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the children died instantly, sparking outrage in the community.
Immediately after the crash, angry villagers stormed the expressway and blocked traffic in both directions.
They used logs, tires, and stones to obstruct vehicles. Because of the protest, traffic stretched for kilometres, and many commuters had no choice but to abandon their vehicles.
Some trekked for hours, hoping to find alternative routes to their destinations.
Youths at the scene also chased the driver, who had attempted to escape.
They nearly lynched him, but security officers arrived just in time and rescued him. The police took him into protective custody to prevent further violence.
To control the tense situation, the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), in collaboration with the police and the Nigerian Army, quickly deployed officers to the area.
TRACE spokesperson, Mr. Babatunde Akinbiyi, addressed the media shortly after the incident.
“A reckless driver killed four schoolchildren today. The villagers reacted with justified anger. Our combined security forces worked swiftly to calm the situation, reopen the road, and ensure that peace returned,” he said.
Moreover, Akinbiyi noted that traffic flow resumed later in the evening and that no additional injuries occurred during the protest.
Following the incident, residents demanded immediate government intervention.
They called for the construction of speed bumps and the placement of pedestrian crossing signs in the area.
According to them, the expressway has turned into a death trap, especially for children returning from school.
Meanwhile, emergency responders moved the bodies of the victims to a nearby morgue.
Police officers launched a full investigation into the driver’s actions, and authorities plan to hold him accountable.
Although peace has returned, the community remains on edge. Many residents insist they will protest again if the government fails to install safety measures within the week.
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