THREE DEAD, FIVE RESCUED AS BUS PLUNGES INTO ARIYO RIVER IN OYO STATE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Oyo State Fire Services Agency on Thursday confirmed that three persons died and five were rescued after a commercial bus plunged into the Ariyo River along Amunloko Road in Ona-Ara Local Government Area on Wednesday.

The incident was disclosed in a statement by Moroof Akinwande, Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Services and Chairman of the agency.

Akinwande said the agency received a distress call at about 3:38 pm from a resident, Fadeke Yusuf, reporting that a vehicle had fallen into the river. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, the rescue team discovered that a Suzuki commercial bus (number plate OSUN LEW 484 XA) carrying eight passengers had lost control and plunged into the river. Five passengers were rescued alive and rushed to Ona-Ara Private Hospital in the Jegede area for treatment, while three others were recovered dead.

The bodies of the deceased were handed over to a team of policemen from the Ogbere Divisional Headquarters led by ASP Aishat Ibrahim.

Akinwande attributed the accident to reckless driving, adding that officials from the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority, Ona-Ara Division, and the Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Glorious Temitope, were present during the rescue operations.

He urged motorists to exercise caution and adhere strictly to road safety regulations to prevent avoidable accidents.