Tragedy struck on Limca Road in the Iyana Isolo area of Lagos State on Thursday after a speeding truck crushed a warehouse driver to death.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the driver, identified as Rafiu Baale, was pushed into the path of the truck by a tricycle driver, Imeh Matthew, during an affray.

Our correspondent learnt that Imeh and his brother were in the tricycle when a car driver bashed it.

They were said to have stopped in front of the warehouse, where the incident happened, to challenge the car owner.

The action created gridlock, forcing the manager of the warehouse to intervene. He asked the warring parties to vacate the company’s gate area.

Our correspondent was told that the deceased, who was a driver with the company, also came out and joined in the call for calm.

However, as the affray and the peace making continued, the tricycle driver was alleged to have pushed Baale to the road and he was crushed to death by a speeding truck.

The matter was said to have been reported at the Answani Police Station, and the truck driver, Aliu Salisu, and the tricycle driver, Imeh, were arrested.

Twenty-five-year old Imeh told PUNCH Metro that he acted in self-defence and had no intention of killing the victim.

He said on the day of the incident, he had parked his tricycle at a junction to eat, adding that it was while returning in his younger brother’s tricycle that the incident happened.

He said, “I am a tricycle driver and I ply Iyana Isolo to Jakande Estate route every day. I have been driving for the past five years.

“On Thursday, last week, I was in my brother’s tricycle when a car hit us.

“I came down with my brother to challenge the man.

“It was while doing this that the manager of the company emerged from somewhere and asked why we were making a noise.

“I was about explaining to him when he slapped me. I wanted to talk and he slapped me again.

“He said we should leave the place. Then the driver of the car that bashed us also started struggling with me.

“They all came out from the company and were holding and pulling me. It was when I wanted to defend myself that I mistakenly pushed the man.”

It was learnt that the truck driver crushed the victim and unknowingly dragged him on the road.

Salisu, 29, said it was his conductor that called his attention to the incident.

He said, “I am a school dropout. I have been driving for the past seven years. I have a driving licence, which expired in December, 2014.

“On that day, I was going to Auchi with some goods.

“When I got to Aye bus stop on Iyana Isolo Road, a policewoman ordered me to stop and I did.

“When she cleared me to go, I also obeyed. My eyes were on her. I did not know they were fighting around that area.

“It was after I had moved that my conductor started shouting that I should stop. That was when I knew what had happened.”

Our correspondent learnt that the victim did not die on the spot.

He was said to have been rushed to a hospital, but died on the way. He was confirmed dead in the hospital.

The uncle of the suspect, Emmanuel Udoh, urged the police to thoroughly investigate the matter, saying he believed his cousin was not to blame for the victim’s death.

Udoh said Imeh was overwhelmed by the crowd that surrounded him and it was in a bid to free himself that Baale died.

He said, “I believe the police can do a good job in this case.

“All those who witnessed the incident testified to the fact that the security guards around that place and some other people there confused him.

“It was during that confusion that the man was crushed to death.”

He described Imeh as a hard working man, who had no criminal record before he was brought to Lagos from the village in Cross River.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Kenneth Nwosu, said the matter had been transfered to the Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the driver, identified as Rafiu Baale, was pushed into the path of the truck by a tricycle driver, Imeh Matthew, during an affray