6 Rescued, 2 Bodies Recovered As FRSC Responds To Bus Crash In Edo River

6 Rescued, 2 Bodies Recovered As FRSC Responds To Bus Crash In Edo River

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Edo State reports that it has rescued six individuals and recovered two bodies following a bus accident in the Ovia River.

Cyril Mathew, the Edo Sector Commander of FRSC, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Benin that divers have been engaged to assist in recovering the passengers trapped in the river. The rescue operation commenced on Thursday evening after the incident occurred.

“Six individuals were rescued alive, but one body was retrieved yesterday and another today,” Mathew said. “Given that the accident happened on Thursday evening, the prospects for finding additional survivors are quite slim.”

He noted that divers have been hired to recover the bodies, though there are ongoing negotiations concerning their fee, which is currently set at N2 million.

The accident took place around 4:20 PM on Thursday when a bus en route from Lagos to Port Harcourt veered off the highway and fell into the river. According to survivors, the driver lost control due to brake failure and, in an attempt to avoid colliding with other vehicles, swerved into the opposite lane. This maneuver led the bus to hit a pavement before plunging into the river.