Hit-and-run crashes are leaving Nigerian families to grapple with sudden deaths, life-changing injuries and unanswered questions, as drivers flee scenes of collisions, VICTOR AYENI writesMost people who plied the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on November 25, 2024, did not expect to see the rather fearful sight that greeted them on that fateful evening.It was a little past 6pm and the sun was just about setting below the horizon, casting the last traces of daylight over the busy highway, while the road remained bright enough for motorists and pedestrians to see clearly.Suddenly, at the Magboro section of the road, a flurry of clothes and hair extensions flew in different directions as a car sped past.For a moment, confusion gripped the drivers and passengers passing through the area. But when the dust settled and the commotion cleared, a frightening reality emerged: a woman lay motionless on the expressway.The light-skinned woman, clad in a blue dress, had been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Scattered around her were haircare containers and weaves she had presumably gone to purchase, now strewn across the tarred road.“This woman has just been hit and abandoned,” one of the onlookers on the way said as our correspondent walked through the area.When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Most people who plied the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on November 25, 2024, did not expect to see the rather fearful sight that greeted them on that fateful evening.It was a little past 6pm and the sun was just about setting below the horizon, casting the last traces of daylight over the busy highway, while the road remained bright enough for motorists and pedestrians to see clearly.Suddenly, at the Magboro section of the road, a flurry of clothes and hair extensions flew in different directions as a car sped past.For a moment, confusion gripped the drivers and passengers passing through the area. But when the dust settled and the commotion cleared, a frightening reality emerged: a woman lay motionless on the expressway.The light-skinned woman, clad in a blue dress, had been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Scattered around her were haircare containers and weaves she had presumably gone to purchase, now strewn across the tarred road.“This woman has just been hit and abandoned,” one of the onlookers on the way said as our correspondent walked through the area.When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. It was a little past 6pm and the sun was just about setting below the horizon, casting the last traces of daylight over the busy highway, while the road remained bright enough for motorists and pedestrians to see clearly.Suddenly, at the Magboro section of the road, a flurry of clothes and hair extensions flew in different directions as a car sped past.For a moment, confusion gripped the drivers and passengers passing through the area. But when the dust settled and the commotion cleared, a frightening reality emerged: a woman lay motionless on the expressway.The light-skinned woman, clad in a blue dress, had been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Scattered around her were haircare containers and weaves she had presumably gone to purchase, now strewn across the tarred road.“This woman has just been hit and abandoned,” one of the onlookers on the way said as our correspondent walked through the area.When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Suddenly, at the Magboro section of the road, a flurry of clothes and hair extensions flew in different directions as a car sped past.For a moment, confusion gripped the drivers and passengers passing through the area. But when the dust settled and the commotion cleared, a frightening reality emerged: a woman lay motionless on the expressway.The light-skinned woman, clad in a blue dress, had been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Scattered around her were haircare containers and weaves she had presumably gone to purchase, now strewn across the tarred road.“This woman has just been hit and abandoned,” one of the onlookers on the way said as our correspondent walked through the area.When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. For a moment, confusion gripped the drivers and passengers passing through the area. But when the dust settled and the commotion cleared, a frightening reality emerged: a woman lay motionless on the expressway.The light-skinned woman, clad in a blue dress, had been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Scattered around her were haircare containers and weaves she had presumably gone to purchase, now strewn across the tarred road.“This woman has just been hit and abandoned,” one of the onlookers on the way said as our correspondent walked through the area.When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The light-skinned woman, clad in a blue dress, had been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver. Scattered around her were haircare containers and weaves she had presumably gone to purchase, now strewn across the tarred road.“This woman has just been hit and abandoned,” one of the onlookers on the way said as our correspondent walked through the area.When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “This woman has just been hit and abandoned,” one of the onlookers on the way said as our correspondent walked through the area.When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. When Saturday PUNCH arrived at the scene, vehicles and heavy-duty trucks moving through the highway swerved to avoid running over the unconscious woman lying on the road. All around stood helpless onlookers crying out for help.Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Our correspondent, alongside a roadside mechanic, volunteered to carry the woman away from the busy highway to the curb, where a small crowd gathered around her, desperately trying to revive her.The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The unconscious woman, who appeared to be in her 30s, had no means of identification on her. However, the materials scattered around her at the scene suggested that she was a hairdresser or worked in a salon.She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. She was still breathing, her pulse faint but detectable. She had no visible injuries and was not bleeding, but it could not be ascertained whether she had sustained internal injuries that required urgent medical attention.Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Amid the prayers and frantic attempts to revive her, a woman ran to the scene from the opposite end of the road and began calling out desperately to the victim, whom she simply identified as “Mummy Favour.”“Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Her shop is located close to a church camp at the next bus stop; she and her husband and children live inside Magboro. I didn’t know this had happened; please help us. I am not with my phone and I can’t remember her husband’s number,” the woman frantically said.After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. After about 20 minutes, a commercial bus (Korope) driver stopped at the scene and volunteered to take the victim to the nearest hospital in Ibafo.A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. A few other sympathisers helped carry the woman into the bus and joined the driver to follow her to the hospital, while other onlookers remained at the scene, hoping she would make it alive.Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Saturday PUNCH could not independently verify whether the woman was resuscitated at the hospital, as none of the sympathisers could be reached.First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. First-class graduate killed, driver arraignedMayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Mayowa Afinni had high hopes as the month of September began. One of them was to make enough and buy a good instrument to aid his music.After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. After graduating with first-class honours from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, in 2024, he decided to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Popularly known as Mayorwhiz, he worked as a dispatch rider, electrician, painter and carpenter, and was also into grilling food.On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. On his TikTok account, Afinni could be seen in videos, the last of which was posted on September 11, displaying his musical skills as a bassist, a musician who plays a low-pitched musical instrument such as a bass guitar, double bass or keyboard bass.Olas car involved in a hit and run.All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. All of this came to an end on Saturday, September 12, when his life was tragically cut short during a dispatch ride along the MKO Abiola Stadium in the Kuto area of Abeokuta.Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Saturday PUNCH gathered that the incident occurred at about 4pm. The deceased was riding a Qlink dispatch motorcycle when he was involved in a fatal collision with a red Lexus ES 350.Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Afinni was reportedly presumed dead at the scene of the accident, while his remains were subsequently conveyed to a general hospital in a Federal Road Safety Corps van.Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Two male occupants of the Lexus were said to have fled the scene following the collision, but a source noted that the incident was reported at the police station and the driver was subsequently arrested.On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. On Wednesday, the driver of the Lexus, Ebenezer Oluwaseyi, appeared before the Isabo Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta for allegedly killing Afinni.According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the defendant faces a four-count charge bordering on murder, damage to property, reckless driving and driving without a valid licence.The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The 22-year-old, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The prosecutor, Evelyn Motim, alleged that Oluwaseyi, while driving an unregistered 2007 Lexus ES 350, drove recklessly on the highway and hit Afinni’s motorcycle, resulting in his death.She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. She also alleged that Oluwaseyi’s reckless driving damaged the motorcycle beyond repair, adding that he was driving without a valid driver’s licence, thereby endangering the lives of other road users.“This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “This act of negligence and reckless driving should not be tolerated by anyone,” she said.According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened Sections 5, 6, 7 and 10 of Act Cap. F13, Laws of the Federation applicable in Ogun, 2004.See more Punch stories on Google.Add Punch on GoogleThe Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The Magistrate, O. O. Sam-Obaleye, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5m with two sureties in like sum, who must be registered bondsmen with the Ogun State Judiciary.He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. He ordered that Oluwaseyi be remanded at the Ibara Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions and adjourned the case until September 28 for hearing.Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Although the suspect was apprehended, his arrest could not fill the void left by Afinni’s death among his friends and family.“Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Rest in perfect peace, Mayowa,” Khaleelulah Abdulraheem wrote on X, sharing a group photo. “He was my younger brother’s classmate in secondary school. He was always at our house every 7am, waiting for my junior brother to get set while they both left for school. He was such an easy-going dude. Heaven will be happy to have you. Rest well, brother.”“Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Rest in peace, my bro,” a TikTok user, WF Mayorkun, said. “I know you can’t reply to this text anymore. Your love still remains the same till we meet again in the Lord’s arms.”A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. A road safety crisisLike in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Like in the case of the Magboro woman in the blue dress and, partly, in Afinni’s example, hit-and-run accidents have remained a critical road safety crisis in Nigeria.A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. A hit-and-run accident is a traffic collision where a driver knowingly strikes a person, another vehicle or property and intentionally flees the scene without stopping to identify themselves or provide assistance.Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Drivers in such situations are usually aware that a crash has occurred but leave the scene immediately without reporting the incident to the authorities.In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. In Nigeria, under the National Road Traffic Regulations and the Criminal Code, fleeing the scene of an accident is a serious criminal offence.The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The law obligates drivers to stop, render emergency first aid to any injured victims and report the crash to the nearest police station within 24 hours.In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. In March, a dispatch rider was struck by a fully loaded HOWO diesel tanker under the Cele Bridge corridor of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos.According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. According to the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, Adebayo Taofiq, the tanker “violently rammed into the dispatch motorcycle, causing the rider to be trapped underneath the tanker,” and he “died instantly.”The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The statement added that the tanker was impounded by LASTMA officials, while the driver “absconded upon perceiving the gravity of the incident.”Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Operatives of the Ijesha Police Division arrived to reinforce security and assumed investigative responsibility.LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. LASTMA handed over the impounded tanker and the damaged motorcycle to the police for “thorough investigation and diligent prosecution.”The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The remains of the rider were conveyed to a morgue in Yaba by the police.Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the manager of a logistics firm, Ebenezer Oluwayomi, pointed out that any road user can become a victim of a hit-and-run crash, including commercial bike riders, schoolchildren and people alighting from vehicles.“Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Many of these accidents are caused by speeding, reckless driving, and the influence of alcohol or drugs on the part of the driver. Some are due to failed brakes and miscalculation. Also, our country has a problem with poor infrastructure. There is inadequate street lighting, and on some highways, a lack of pedestrian bridges makes citizens susceptible.“Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Many hit-and-run drivers flee to escape legal consequences or mob action. But it is criminal to see the damage you have caused to a human life and then refuse to stop. That is like committing a crime and evading its consequences. Drivers are trained in such cases to report to the police; to not do so adds to the gravity of the offence,” he said.Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Sharing a photo of his damaged vehicle, an X user, Level Up (@ola_levelup), disclosed that he had a hit-and-run experience on July 3 with an ES350 car.Related NewsOgun youths seek release of #EndSARS reportChild trafficking: Ogun man seeks help over wife’s detentionAnglican Synod seeks drug tests for public office seekers“No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “No casualties, thankfully, but five of us were in the car. I was fine; the two guys had minor injuries, while the only female lost consciousness and broke her arm. Thank God she’s much better now.“So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “So, if these guys left the car and ghosted for that moment because of angry Nigerians and jungle justice, I honestly understand. It’s something I’ve experienced myself and trust me, it’s not a small thing. They can kill someone instantly. Better to get away from the crowd first, then report to the nearest police station when you’re safe,” he posted.Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Family lossesIn April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. In April, a video which went viral on social media showed students of Lagos State University staging a protest at a police station over an accident that had occurred.A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. A 300-level student of the university, Azeezat Abdul-Rasheed, had died in the hospital after being knocked down by a suspected hit-and-run driver at about 7pm.Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Reacting to the incident, the university management, on its official X account, LASUofficial, called for calm, adding that the driver had been arrested and would be charged to court.The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The Lagos State Police Command also noted that it had commenced an investigation into the incident.“The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “The Command is aware of the incident, which is a fatal motor accident. Following the report, the DPO Igando promptly visited the scene.“The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “The corpse has been deposited at the mortuary, while the driver involved is in police custody. The vehicle has also been impounded for further investigation. The case has since been transferred to the Area Command,” the police said.About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. About six months earlier, a director with the Lagos State Government, Serifat Talabi, died four days before her retirement from the civil service and her 60th birthday.She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. She was said to have been knocked down by a hit-and-run driver while crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near the Redemption Camp in Ogun State.A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. A source in the state civil service revealed that Talabi was the Director of Procurement at the Lagos State Resident Registration Agency.“Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Efforts were made to take her to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead,” the source disclosed.Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Another source in the agency disclosed that Talabi was supposed to retire on October 13, 2025, but the retirement event was postponed to Wednesday, October 22, to allow the agency’s General Manager to attend.3D illustration of a hit-and-run driver speeding away after striking two pedestrians and driving awayThat same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. That same month, a prominent labour activist, Abiodun Aremu, was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver around 6pm as he was crossing the road near his home in Ota, Ogun State.The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The 65-year-old was said to have been immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel battled to save his life, but he gave up the ghost despite the measures taken.The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity, Owei Lakemfa, described Aremu as a “fearless teacher and leader” who sought to “build a world founded on social justice.”In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. In addition to his labour activism, Aremu had served as secretary of the Nigeria Movement for the Liberation of Western Sahara and the Nigerian Movement of Solidarity with Cuba.Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Crashes increased by nine per cent –FRSCIn February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. In February, the FRSC released its 2025 annual and festive-season road traffic statistics, showing an increase in road crashes and injuries nationwide, despite a slight decline in fatalities.The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the data showed a troubling upward trend in road traffic incidents nationwide.“Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Total crashes across the country increased by 9.2 per cent, from 9,570 in 2024 to 10,446 in 2025,” he said.Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Mohammed noted that serious crashes also increased by 10.5 per cent, rising from 6,131 cases in 2024 to 6,772 in 2025.Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Minor crashes saw an even sharper increase of 17.5 per cent, climbing from 907 to 1,066 within the same period.The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The Corps Marshal added that the number of people injured in road crashes rose by 7.2 per cent, from 31,154 in 2024 to 33,400 in 2025. However, he pointed out that fatalities declined slightly.“The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “The number of persons killed declined from 5,421 to 5,289, representing a 2.4 per cent reduction,” Mohammed added.Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Regarding hit-and-run accidents, an earlier report by the FRSC identifies pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists as vulnerable road users, while Nigerian road-crash research also identifies vehicle occupants and motorcycle passengers among significant casualty groups.Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Although regulatory bodies like the FRSC and other authorities continue to crack down on reckless motorists, sadly, tragic incidents have continued to affect families.Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Calculations made by Saturday PUNCH from media reports showed that there were at least 60 hit-and-run fatalities from August 2024 through August 2026.Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Two killed, one hospitalisedLast month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Last month, the Enugu State Police Command said it had launched an investigation to identify and arrest a yet-to-be-identified driver who allegedly killed two men in a hit-and-run crash.The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The incident reportedly occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, in the Enugu East Local Government Area of the state at about 10am.Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Eyewitnesses said the driver, who was travelling from Emene towards Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while negotiating the area at high speed.An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. An eyewitness told Saturday PUNCH that one of the victims had stopped his vehicle after it developed a fault and went to a nearby mechanic workshop to obtain tools to repair it.The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The witness said the victim was returning the tools after fixing his vehicle when the speeding driver allegedly rammed into him.The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The impact reportedly killed him instantly and severed one of his legs. But the driver allegedly continued driving and subsequently hit another man, who also died, before fleeing the scene.An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. An eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, said, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner.“He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Commenting on the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Similarly, on Wednesday, an elderly man, identified as Muhammad Bello, was hospitalised after he was knocked down by a vehicle that fled the scene at Agbowa Community, inward Itoikin Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, stated that Bello sustained severe injuries, including suspected fractures to both legs, following the incident.He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. He noted that the incident occurred at about 2:10pm after the agency received a distress call from the community.“Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Upon arrival, responders found an elderly man identified as Muhammad Bello lying by the roadside after being knocked down by a vehicle which fled the scene immediately after the incident,” Oke-Osanyintolu added.The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. The PS noted that preliminary assessment by the agency’s paramedics showed that the victim sustained severe injuries to both legs, adding that he was taken to the hospital for medical care.Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Why drivers fleeSpeaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, a Security Risk Management Advisor at GIZ Nigeria Limited, Ernest Aliozor, explained that several factors may cause a driver to hit a victim and flee the scene.“Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Some of these factors are severity or fatality of the incident. When a driver realises that the victim is dead, critically injured, or unconscious, they may panic and flee to avoid the consequences of the incident.“They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “They are also afraid of mob action. In some locations, drivers involved in accidents risk being attacked by angry bystanders or villagers. Reports of drivers being beaten or vehicles being destroyed or burnt can cause drivers to flee immediately after an accident.“There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “There is also a fear of legal consequences. Drivers who believe they are at fault may leave the scene to avoid arrest, prosecution, or other legal consequences,” Aliozor explained.He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. He further clarified that a lack of proper documentation which include drivers without valid licenses, insurance, or vehicle documents may cause them to flee because remaining at the scene could expose these violations to law-enforcement authorities.“Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Intoxicated drivers may have impaired judgment, reduced control, and a greater likelihood of causing accidents. Once involved, impairment may also contribute to irrational decisions to flee.“Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added. “Additionally, fatigue and inadequate rest can significantly impair concentration, reaction time, and judgment, increasing the likelihood of reckless driving and collisions. Where the driver is at fault, these factors may subsequently increase the tendency to flee to evade possible arrest and prosecution,” Aliozor added.