A government ambulance knocked down and ran over a woman close to the finish line during the 11th on February 14.
A viral video of the incident captures runners moving along the road before the ambulance approached from behind and ran over the victim.
The footage triggered widespread reactions online, with many social media users raising concerns about emergency vehicle procedures, crowd control measures, and the driver’s conduct during the race.
The described the occurrence as “unfortunate”.
Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos commissioner for information and strategy, explained that the ambulance was part of the marathon’s medical emergency response team and was conveying athletes who had earlier required medical assistance when the accident happened near the medal collection area.
He stated that the woman suffered bruises and complained of chest pain but was stabilised at the scene, with her vital signs reported to be stable. According to him, she is currently undergoing treatment and showing signs of improvement.
“Officials immediately alerted the ambulance crew to stop upon noticing the situation,” the statement reads.
“The emergency medical team promptly assessed and evacuated the affected individual for on-the-spot care before transferring her to a public health facility for further evaluation.”
Omotoso added that the Lagos state ministry of health and the sports commission are closely observing her recovery, with senior officials visiting the hospital where she remains “under professional supervision”.
He further noted that a detailed investigation into the incident is ongoing.