The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) was on Friday thrown into mourning after a container truck belonging to Sifax Group, reportedly driving against oncoming traffic (one-way driving), crushed one of its members to death.
The MWUN member, who was a dockworker identified as ThankGod Ojomah worked with Micura Stevedoring Services Limited.
He was reportedly crushed to death while trying to cross the road at Warehouse Bus Stop on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.
The late Ojomah, it was gathered, was until his demise a unit auditor of the MWUN.
The incident, which happened around 10:15am, saw the truck driver and his assistant took to their heels after confirming the death of the dockworker.
President-General of MWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, who confirmed the incident, vowed that the union would formally take up the death of the dockworker with the management of Sifax Group. He said the remains of the deceased have been deposited in a mortuary in Lagos.
The President General disclosed that the late dockworker was on his way to his duty post when the accident happened.
However, the spokesman of Sifax Group, Muyiwa Akande, who also confirmed the incident, absolved the truck driver of blame.
He said, “We commensurate with the deceased and we pray God will grant him eternal rest but I wish to state that no policeman was trying to arrest the truck but what happened was that the situation in Apapa caused by the Coconut traffic and the truck was trying to maneuver because there is a problem on a portion of the road and it was the police that provided the route for everyone.
“This was not a case of doing what others were not doing but unfortunately, it happened and I think he was trying to reverse when he realised that someone was behind and the accident happened.
“He (the truck driver) was not running from any policeman because there was no need to run and he wasn’t committing any offence.
“He wasn’t plying where others are not plying. So as we speak, our management team is working with the police and family of the deceased and the union, because he was a dockworker, to resolve the issue.
“Accidents will always happen and we are sorry it happened and we are trying our best to resolve the issue,” Akande said.