The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a bus driver linked to a fatal hit-and-run collision that left a 19-year-old pedestrian dead at Airport Bus Stop, Ikeja, in Lagos State, police confirmed on Monday, January 12, 2026. The arrest follows a coordinated search after the driver fled the scene.
The Airport Police Command disclosed in a statement that the incident occurred on Friday, January 9, 2026, involving an Ashok Leyland Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) bus with registration number MUS-139-YL.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the bus struck the victim shortly after she alighted from the vehicle and was heading toward the airport.
ASP Mohammed Adeola, the command’s spokesperson, said eyewitnesses rushed the injured teenager to the Air Force Base Hospital for urgent medical care, but medical personnel later confirmed her death on arrival due to the severity of her injuries.
Following the crash, police launched a coordinated manhunt for the driver, who had fled the scene. Authorities worked with LAMATA officials to trace, identify and apprehend the suspect, who was later taken into custody and has since made a statement, according to the police. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing.
Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Olufunke Ogunbode, described the young pedestrian’s death as a grave loss and said the command would ensure that justice is served. She reiterated that negligence and reckless driving would not be condoned.
Ogunbode urged both motorists and pedestrians to obey traffic regulations to help prevent avoidable road tragedies, highlighting the importance of road safety awareness in reducing such incidents. Following the conclusion of police investigations, the driver is expected to be arraigned in court on appropriate traffic and criminal charges.
Authorities continue to investigate the case as part of broader efforts to improve road safety in Lagos, where hit-and-run incidents have been among the leading causes of traffic-related fatalities.
