The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Edo State has reported that six people have been rescued and two bodies recovered following a bus accident where the vehicle plunged into the Ovia River. The FRSC is continuing efforts to retrieve additional passengers and the bus involved in the incident.
RESCUE MISSION DETAILS
Cyril Mathew, Edo Sector Commander for the FRSC, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Benin that divers have been enlisted to aid in the recovery of the remaining passengers trapped in the river. The rescue operation commenced on Thursday evening, shortly after the accident occurred.
“Six people were rescued alive, while one body was recovered deceased yesterday, and another body was recovered today,” Mathew stated.
CHALLENGES AND RECOVERY EFFORTS
Mathew noted that the chances of finding additional survivors are slim, given that the accident happened on Thursday evening. He mentioned that negotiations are ongoing with divers, who are requesting ₦2 million to carry out the recovery operations.
DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT
The accident took place around 4:20 pm on Thursday when a bus traveling from Lagos to Port Harcourt lost control and veered off the highway into the Ovia River. According to survivors, the driver experienced brake failure, which led to the loss of control. In an attempt to avoid a collision with other vehicles, the driver swerved into the opposite lane, causing the bus to crash through a pavement and plunge into the river.