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No fewer than four people have died, and one other reportedly missing after an 18-seater bus commuting the Lokoja-Abuja express plunged into the river.
The Graphics quoted a resident in the area, Shaibu Ohiomoko who observed that the driver of the bus was either sleeping sleeping, driving under the influence of intoxicants or speedy on the road even though he didn’t know the route well.
He said experience has taught him that many motorists plying the area knew next to nothing, but are impatient and always want to overtake even in dangerous situations.
On the number of persons that may have lost their lives in the mishap, the respondent said he more than four could have died if not for the swift intervention of concerned residents of the area.
His position was corroborated by sources within the Kogi State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who said the driver might have been distracted either by sleep, alcohol intake or lack of knowledge of the road while speeding.
The source advised the public to drive carefully irrespective of road situation, noting that it was through that they could avert reoccurrence of the situation.
Umar Adamu told The Graphic that the tragedy occurred between 19th and 20th hours of the day, saying the people were shocked and that rescuers quickly reacted to salvage the situation as it was feared that more could have lost their lives in the incident.
Confirming the accident, the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kogi State Command, Lokoja,Suleiman Mafara, said the command got the news of the unfortunate incident through distress call.
The Commandant said he quickly mobilised his men immediately information filtered to his office about the situation through the Disaster and Crisis Unit of the command.
He said they were joined by men of the Federal Roads Safety Corps and volunteer divers who moved to the scene of the accident.
Marafa,who disclosed that the corpse had been deposited in a morgue in Lokoja,warned drivers to adhere strictly to road safety guidelines, to prevent avoidable carnage on road.
