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At least six worshippers have died after a truck loaded with sharp sand crashed into a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) building in the Epe area of Lagos State.
The tragic incident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, along Hospital Road in the community. Several other worshippers were reportedly injured in the crash.
An eyewitness, Tinu Oduwale, told The Punch on Tuesday that the truck was descending the road toward a roundabout when its brakes suddenly failed. According to her, the driver lost control of the vehicle and veered into the church building.
“The truck was going downhill toward the roundabout when the driver realised the brakes were no longer working. He was shouting and honking repeatedly,” she said. “To avoid crashing into vehicles and people at the junction, he swerved toward the building. Unfortunately, that was how the truck crashed straight into the church.”
Another resident, identified simply as Sanjo, said the worshippers had just concluded their evening service when the accident happened. He noted that the death toll could have been much higher if the crash had occurred earlier.
“The number of deaths would have been much higher. They had just finished service around that time. Some people had already left, while others were still inside the church praying or preparing to go home when the truck rammed into the building,” he said.
Emergency responders, including officials from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other security agencies, were deployed to the scene shortly after the incident.
A video sighted on Tuesday showed some victims trapped beneath the truck, as emergency workers and residents worked together to unload sand from the vehicle in an effort to rescue those caught underneath.
It was also gathered that the truck driver fled the scene shortly after the crash.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, said six people lost their lives.
“The truck is unregistered, and the driver is currently at large,” she said. “The remains of the deceased worshippers have been deposited in the morgue, and investigations are ongoing.”
