No fewer than five passengers were rescued alive while three others were recovered dead after a passenger bus plunged into the Ariyo River along the Amuloko Road area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Mr. Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday in Ibadan.
According to Akinwande, the agency received a distress call about the accident on Wednesday from a resident, Mrs. Fadeke Yusuf, prompting an immediate deployment of emergency responders to the scene.
He explained that on arrival, fire service personnel discovered a Suzuki passenger bus with registration number LEW 484 XA from Osun State carrying eight passengers. The vehicle had reportedly lost control before crashing into the river.
“Five persons were rescued alive and taken to Ona-Ara Private Hospital in the Jegede area for medical attention, while three lifeless bodies were recovered from the river,” Akinwande said.
He added that the bodies of the deceased were handed over to police officers from the Ogbere Divisional Headquarters, led by ASP Aishat Ibrahim.
The fire service boss attributed the accident to reckless driving and urged motorists to always adhere to road safety rules to prevent avoidable tragedies.
Akinwande also commended the efforts of officials of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA), Ona Ara Division, as well as the Chairman of Ona Ara Local Government, Glorious Temitope, for their support during the rescue operation.
The report was provided by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
