Four die, one missing as Lagos-Kano bus plunges into Kogi river

Tragedy struck Tuesday night in Kogi State as an 18-seater bus plunged into the Black River, a tributary to River Niger, in the Koton Karfe area, killing four of its occupants.

Solomon Agure, Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal road Safety Corps, confirmed that the accident occurred around 7.30pm.

He said the bus with registration number Plateau – JJN 73 XA took off from Ijora Seven Up park in Lagos and was heading for Kano.

According to Agure, four people, including a woman, died in the accident while seven others were critically injured.

The driver was said to have lost control of the vehicle after sleeping off.

The state Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Suleiman Mafara, said after receiving a distress call, his men in conjunction with FRSC officials and volunteer divers moved to the scene.

He said four corpses had been recovered and 13 others rescued alive while one person could not be accounted for.

He added that his men and other Security personnel were working to recover the only person yet to be accounted for.

The recovered corpses, according to Marafa, have been deposited at a mortuary in Lokoja.

He warned drivers and commuters to adhere strictly to road safety guidelines so as to avoid preventable accidents on the highways.