Lagos Marathon incident sparks outrage after crash

A medical ambulance struck a female participant during the Lagos City Marathon on Saturday in Lagos, triggering widespread reactions online and raising fresh safety concerns at one of Africa’s biggest road races. The incident reportedly occurred along the race route as emergency vehicles navigated through active runners.

Eyewitnesses said the woman was hit while the ambulance was attempting to pass through the course. She was immediately attended to by officials and taken for medical care. Organisers later confirmed the situation was under control. “The safety of every runner remains our top priority,” a race official stated, adding that an internal review had begun.

Several Nigerians took to social media to question how an emergency vehicle gained access to the track mid-race. “This shouldn’t happen at an international marathon,” one user wrote, while another added, “Proper coordination is crucial to avoid incidents like this.”

The Lagos Marathon annually attracts thousands of athletes and is regarded as a World Athletics-recognised event, making the episode a major talking point in this year’s edition.