16th October, 2015
By Abiodun Onafuye
Contrary to reports that the 18 seater bus that plunged into River Ome along Ogbere–Ore –Benin expressway last night was fully loaded with passengers, our correspondent can report that the bus was conveying only five passengers.
The Okitipupa-bound 18 seater bus with registration number AKR 474 XA (ONDO) on Thursday night around 9:00 pm plunged into the river.
Speaking with our correspondent Friday morning in his office on the incident, the spokesman of the State Traffic Agency, TRACE, Tunde Akinbiyi, disclosed that information from their men at the scene of the incident has revealed that the vehicle was not fully loaded with passengers as reported by the media.
Akinbiyi revealed that a text message sent by the Secretary of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, RTEAN, Okitipupa branch, Com. Femi Falemare to their officer in Ijebu axis had been forwarded to him, which was shown to our correspondent.
The message confirmed that two persons had been removed from the river while three others were still inside.
It also stated that the vehicle which had been removed was towed to Ogbere Police station.
Our correspondent further gathered that the vehicle was loaded with cosmetic products and was on its way to Okitipupa from Idumota, Lagos state.
As at the time of filing this report, local divers, who have been assisting in searching for the remaining three bodies, have taken another route to see whether they could get them.
The Police, FRSC, TRACE and Vigilante officers are still at the scene of the incident.