Two people perished and six others were saved after a bus in Edo State plunged into the Ovia River.
The disaster happened on Thursday, September 12, 2024, when the bus’s brakes failed and the driver lost control of the vehicle.
On Friday in Benin, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was informed by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Edo Sector Commander, Cyril Mathew, that divers had been called in to retrieve the passengers who were stranded in the river.
The accident occurred on Thursday evening, he said, and the FRSC started the rescue operation.
“Six people were rescued alive, while one was recovered dead yesterday. Another body was recovered dead today,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the chances of survival of the remaining passengers in the river are slim, given that the accident occurred Thursday evening.
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“We have engaged divers to help recover the bodies, but negotiations are ongoing. ‘The divers are asking for N2 million to carry out the recovery,” he said.
He stated that the bus tragedy happened on Thursday at 4:20 p.m. when it veered off the roadway and fell into the river while heading from Lagos to Port Harcourt.
“According to passengers who survived the crash, the driver lost control of the bus after experiencing brake failure.”
“In a desperate attempt to avoid colliding with vehicles in front, the driver veered into the opposite lane, leaving the Ore-Benin-Lagos route and crossing over to the Benin-Ore road.
“Due to the speed of the vehicle, the driver was unable to regain control, causing the bus to hit a pavement and plunged into the river.”
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli