Bus plunges into river leaving 3 dead, 14 missing

September 21, 2016 7:05 PM

Three people have been confirmed dead and 14 reported missing after an 18-seater bus plunged into a river in Kaduna.

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Three people have been confirmed dead with 14 others missing after an 18-seater bus plunged into River Rijana along the Kaduna-Abuja road.

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The Kaduna Sector's Head of Operations of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr Salisus Galadunci, confirmed the deaths, revealing that the accident took place at about 11 pm on Tuesday, September 20.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Wednesday 21, Galadunci said that the 18 occupants of the bus who were all members of the same family, were on their way back to Lokoja from Kano when the tragic accident occurred.

Galadunci also disclosed that there was a sole survivor of the accident and that three bodies have been recovered from the river.

“An 18-seater bus travelling to Lokoja from Kano plunged into River Rijana with about 18 persons, all related, returning from Sallah break.

“The incident was reported by the only survivor, a woman who manage to report to an FRSC ambulance stationed at Doka unit, along Kaduna-Abuja expressway, around 7 am on Wednesday.

“Rescuers from FRSC Doka, Katari and Kakau were immediately dispatched with ambulances, and with support of local divers to search for survivors.

“Eventually, only three bodies were recovered, while the remaining persons could not be found, including the survivor’s daughter,” he said.

The Head of Operations added that the survivor attributed the accident to speeding as well as fatigue.

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According to Galadunci, the bodies which were recovered have been buried along the river side by villagers in the area.

“Among the FRSC rescue team were the Zone 1 Commander, Bulus Darwang, Kaduan State Sector Commander, Francis Udoma and Zone 1 Head of Operations, Yomi Asaniyan,” Galadunci added.

Meanwhile, continuous efforts are being put into the rescue of the missing passengers.