A tragic accident along Amuloko Road in Ibadan has claimed three lives after a passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into the Ariyo River on Wednesday. Five other passengers were rescued alive from the wreckage.
The Oyo State Fire Services Agency confirmed the incident through its Chairman, Mr Maroof Akinwande, who addressed journalists on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Ibadan.
Swift Response Saves Five Lives
According to Akinwande, the fire service received a distress call from Mrs Fadeke Yusuf, prompting an immediate deployment of rescue personnel to the scene.
“Upon arrival, we met a Suzuki bus with registration number LEW 484 XA (Osun) carrying eight passengers, which lost control and crashed into the river,” the chairman explained.
The rescue team worked swiftly to save five passengers who were found alive. They were immediately rushed to Ona-Ara Private Hospital in the Jegede area for medical treatment.
Three Bodies Recovered
Tragically, three passengers could not survive the accident. Their bodies were recovered from the river by the fire service team and subsequently handed over to police officers from the Ogbere Divisional Headquarters, led by ASP Aishat Ibrahim.
Reckless Driving Blamed
Chairman Akinwande attributed the accident to reckless driving, using the incident as an opportunity to caution Nigerian motorists about road safety.
“I advise all motorists to always drive carefully and observe road safety rules to avoid unnecessary accidents,” he stated firmly.
The call comes amid growing concerns about road accidents across Nigeria, many of which are linked to speeding, dangerous overtaking, and failure to adhere to traffic regulations.
Collaborative Rescue Effort
The chairman commended the collaborative efforts that made the rescue operation successful, particularly acknowledging the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (Ona Ara Division) and the Chairman of Ona Ara Local Government, Glorious Temitope, for their support during the emergency response.
This incident serves as another sobering reminder of the importance of defensive driving and the devastating consequences of carelessness behind the wheel, especially on Nigerian roads where many factors already make driving challenging
As rescue operations concluded, authorities have urged family members of the victims to contact the relevant agencies for further information.
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