Three people have died while five others were rescued after a passenger bus plunged into the Ariyo River along Amuloko Road in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The incident was confirmed by the Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, in a statement issued on Thursday.
Akinwande said the agency received a distress call about the accident on Wednesday from one Mrs. Fadeke Yusuf, prompting the immediate deployment of firefighters to the scene.
According to him, upon arrival, emergency responders found a Suzuki bus with registration number LEW 484 XA from Osun State that had lost control and plunged into the river with eight passengers on board.
“Five persons were rescued alive and conveyed to Ona-Ara Private Hospital in the Jegede area, while three lifeless bodies were recovered,” he said.
The recovered bodies were later handed over to police officers from the Nigeria Police Force at the Ogbere Divisional Headquarters, led by Aishat Ibrahim.
Akinwande attributed the accident to reckless driving and urged motorists to always observe road safety rules to prevent avoidable tragedies.
He also commended the support of officials of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) from the Ona-Ara Division, as well as the Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Glorious Temitope, for their assistance during the rescue operation.
