A mother and her child have died after two heavily loaded 20-foot container trucks overturned at Mile 2, near Freeman Market, inward Apapa, Lagos State.

The victims were reportedly trapped beneath the overturned trucks and their containers during the accident, which occurred over the weekend.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said its rescue and recovery personnel were deployed to the scene to evacuate the victims and clear the wreckage.

According to the agency, the affected road was temporarily cordoned off, while traffic was diverted through an adjoining service lane to ease congestion and prevent further accidents.

LASTMA deployed a crane and a high-capacity tow vehicle to remove the overturned trucks and their cargoes, while officers of the Nigeria Police Force provided security during the recovery operation.

The remains of the deceased were subsequently conveyed to the police mortuary in Yaba for necessary procedures.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the incident and called for a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

Bakare-Oki urged relevant security agencies to determine whether mechanical defects, overloading, improper cargo distribution, driver negligence or other factors contributed to the tragedy.

He also called on truck operators to ensure their vehicles were roadworthy, secure their cargoes properly and comply strictly with established road safety regulations.