Tragedy on Third Mainland Bridge: Young Woman Dies After Car Plunges into Lagos Lagoon
In the early hours of Saturday morning, tragedy struck on Lagos’ iconic Third Mainland Bridge when 27-year-old Aisha Maikudi Ibrahim lost her life in a fatal car accident. The young entrepreneur was reportedly driving home to Gbagada from an event in Ikoyi when her car somersaulted and plunged into the Lagos Lagoon.
What Happened?
According to family accounts, Aisha had called her mother around 1:00 a.m., assuring her she would be home within 20 minutes. But as time passed and her phone line became unreachable, worry began to set in. By dawn, her mother and older sister began a desperate search along her likely route. Their fears were confirmed when they arrived at the scene of an ongoing emergency response on the bridge—only to find her car’s bumper partially visible in the water.
A Delayed and Painful Recovery
While officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and marine police were present at the scene, the family claims there was little action taken to retrieve the vehicle—or Aisha. According to her aunt, Hadiza Oyewumi, the rescue effort stalled for hours as emergency workers made calls but reportedly did not enter the water.
The family was eventually forced to negotiate with local divers, who demanded ₦400,000 before agreeing to help. With no other options and deep in distress, the payment was made. Aisha’s body was recovered nearly 12 hours after the crash, between 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. She was buried later that day in accordance with Islamic rites.
“No Family Should Go Through This”
In a heartfelt statement, Mrs. Oyewumi described Aisha as a “bright and ambitious entrepreneur” with a promising future. She expressed the family’s pain not only at her untimely death but at the treatment they received during the rescue effort.
“The tragedy of her death is painful enough, but the greater pain lies in the response that followed,” she said.
The family is now calling on the Lagos State Government to urgently address the gaps in emergency preparedness—especially around key areas like the Third Mainland Bridge, where accidents into the lagoon are sadly not unheard of.
A Call for Better Emergency Response in Lagos
This incident has sparked fresh outrage about the condition of emergency services in Lagos. From under-equipped officials to the apparent “commercialisation” of rescue efforts, Aisha’s story reflects a deeper issue in how life-threatening situations are handled.
Citizens and advocacy groups are urging the government to:
- Properly equip marine rescue teams with diving gear and rapid response boats.
- Train and deploy emergency divers on standby across high-risk areas.
- Create protocols to prevent delays caused by bureaucratic or financial hurdles.
Aisha’s death is a painful reminder that beyond the daily hustle of Lagos, life can change in a moment—and when it does, the system meant to protect and rescue must be ready to respond swiftly and compassionately.
Let this be more than just another sad story. Let it be a wake-up call.
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