FRSC Rescues Six, Recovers Two Bodies After Bus Plunges Into Ovia River in Edo

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Edo State has confirmed the rescue of six passengers and the recovery of two bodies after a tragic accident in which a bus plunged into the Ovia River.

The accident, which occurred along the busy Lagos-Port Harcourt route, has sent shockwaves through the community as rescue operations continue, with the chances of finding more survivors looking increasingly slim.

Cyril Mathew, the Edo State Sector Commander of the FRSC, shared the details of the incident with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, stating that the rescue mission had been in full swing since the bus plunged into the river on Thursday evening.

According to him, divers have been contacted to help recover the remaining passengers believed to be trapped in the submerged vehicle.

The recovery effort, however, has faced challenges due to ongoing negotiations with the divers, who are reportedly demanding N2 million for the operation.

The accident, which took place around 4:20 pm on Thursday, involved a commercial bus travelling from Lagos to Port Harcourt.

The bus reportedly veered off the road after the driver lost control due to brake failure, plunging into the Ovia River.

FRSC officials quickly mobilised to the scene, launching a rescue mission that saw six people pulled out of the water alive on Thursday evening. One body was also recovered that evening, with another retrieved the following day.

Commander Mathew expressed concern for the remaining passengers still trapped in the river, saying, “Unfortunately, the chances of survival for the remaining passengers are slim, given that the accident occurred on Thursday evening.”

Efforts to recover the bodies of the remaining passengers have been complicated by the demands of the divers.

“We have engaged divers to help with the recovery, but negotiations are ongoing as the divers are asking for N2 million to carry out the operation,” Mathew explained.

Eyewitnesses and survivors of the crash have shed light on the sequence of events leading up to the accident.

According to passengers who survived, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle after experiencing a sudden brake failure. In a desperate attempt to avoid a collision with vehicles in front of him, the driver swerved into the opposite lane.

The bus, which had been travelling on the Ore-Benin-Lagos route, crossed over into the Benin-Ore road, a manoeuvre that ultimately led to the tragedy.

“Due to the speed of the vehicle, the driver was unable to regain control, causing the bus to hit a pavement before it plunged into the river,” Mathew recounted.

The survivors’ accounts highlight the terrifying moments before the bus crashed into the water. Passengers were helpless as the vehicle hurtled off the road and into the river, leaving many trapped in the submerged bus.

While the initial rescue of six passengers has been hailed as a positive outcome, the recovery operation remains fraught with difficulties.

The involvement of divers is crucial in locating the submerged bus and extracting the remaining passengers, but financial demands have caused a delay.

The FRSC’s reliance on local divers, who have requested a substantial payment for their services, underscores the challenges faced by rescue teams in Nigeria, where adequate resources for emergency operations are often lacking.

The delay in recovery is also likely to affect the chances of finding any additional survivors. With each passing hour, the likelihood of survival for those still trapped diminishes, turning the operation into more of a recovery mission than a rescue effort.

Commander Mathew acknowledged this grim reality, stating that the FRSC’s primary focus now is to recover the bodies of the passengers still trapped in the river.

This tragic accident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent dangers faced by travellers on Nigerian roads.

The combination of poor road conditions, inadequate vehicle maintenance, and reckless driving continues to contribute to the high number of road accidents in the country.

Brake failures, such as the one that caused this fatal accident, are not uncommon and often result in devastating consequences.

The Ovia River incident is the latest in a long string of road tragedies that have plagued the country.

Despite efforts by the FRSC to improve road safety through public education and enforcement of traffic regulations, accidents continue to claim lives with alarming frequency.

In the aftermath of this tragic incident, there is a need for more stringent measures to prevent similar accidents in the future. Ensuring that commercial vehicles are well-maintained and regularly inspected could help to reduce the risk of mechanical failures, such as the brake malfunction that led to this tragedy.

Additionally, more attention must be paid to the training of drivers, especially those operating long-distance commercial buses, to improve their ability to handle emergencies and prevent accidents.

Furthermore, the government and relevant authorities must prioritise equipping emergency response teams with the necessary resources to handle rescue and recovery missions swiftly and effectively.

The delay caused by the financial demands of local divers in this case highlights the need for more structured and well-funded emergency services that can respond to such incidents without delay.

The Ovia River bus tragedy is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers that loom on Nigeria’s roads.

While the rescue of six passengers offers some hope, the loss of lives and the grim prospects for the remaining trapped passengers call for urgent reforms in road safety and emergency response mechanisms.

As the recovery operation continues, it is imperative that measures are taken to prevent such accidents in the future, ensuring that Nigerian roads are safer for all.