Sifax Truck Driving against Traffic Crushes Dockworker to Death in Lagos

 

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) were over the weekend thrown into mourning when a  container laden Sifax Group truck crushed one of their colleagues to death.

The dockworker simply identified as ThankGod Ojomah, with Micura Stevedoring Services Limited, died while attempting to  cross the dilapidated Apapa Oshodi expressway by Warehouse bus stop Lagos.

The late Ojomah, it was gathered, was until his demise, a unit auditor of the MWUN.

The incident which happened around 10:15a.m. saw the truck driver and his assistant took to their heels after confirming the death of the dockworker.

When contacted, President-General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, vowed that the union would  write officially to Sifax Group about the death of their member.

Adeyanju said the body of the late dockworker has been deposited in a mortuary in Lagos.

He said the accident occurred as a result of the recklessness of the driver who he alleged was driving against the traffic.

The president-general disclosed that the late dockworker was on his way to his duty post that morning when he was crushed to death by the truck.

Expressing grief over the death of his member, he maintained that late Ojomah was a promising and dedicated worker that was loved by all.

However, the spokesman of Sifax Group, Mr. Akande Muyiwa, confirmed the incident, saying the truck driver didn't do anything unusual by driving against the traffic because the police approved the route plied by the driver.

He however assured the concerned that  the group would meet with the family of deceased and union to resolve the issue.

According to Muyiwa,  "We commensurate with the deceased and we pray God will grant him eternal rest  but I wish to state that no policeman was trying to arrest the truck. What happened was that the situation in Apapa caused by the coconut traffic and the truck was trying to maneuver because there is a problem on a portion of the road and it was the police that provided the route for everyone.

"This was not a case of doing what other were not doing but unfortunately, it happened and I think he was trying to reverse when he realised that someone was behind, and the accident happened. "

“The driver was not running from any policeman because there was no need to do so and he wasn't committing any offence.

"He wasn't plying where others are not plying. So as we speak, our management team is working with the police and family of the deceased as well as the union because he is a dockworker to resolve the issue.”