Three die, as Lagos-bound bus plunges into Lagos canal

At least four persons were killed and over 30 injured when a Lagos-bound luxury bus from Enugu belonging to one of the major transporters in the Southeast plunged into the Owode-Elede River in the Mile 12-Ikorodu area of Lagos yesterday morning.

At least four bodies were recovered from the scene, while 48 persons were been rescued.Adebayo Kehinde, spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), who confirmed the incidents, noted that the ill-fated bus was returning to Lagos from Abia State when the accident occurred.

Kehinde said the agency was informed about the accident around 3:23am and it swung into action immediately.He stated: “The agency received a distress call about 3.23 am today (yesterday) via the emergency toll free number 767/112 concerning a luxury bus, which was gathered to be enroute Maza-Maza from Aba, Abia state.

“According to preliminary investigations conducted at the incident scene, the bus was said to have skidded off its track while on top speed and plunged into the canal at Owode-Elede, before Mile 12, on Ikorodu road.”

Kehinde said there were 59 passengers on board the bus and those who died fell into the water, where their corpses was recovered.
“The bus, with 59 passengers on board, had 23 people injured and were treated on the spot by a joint team of LASEMA Paramedics and LASAMBUS.

“Nine out of the treated victims were taken to the Lagos State Trauma Centre at the Toll Gate for further treatment, while two adult male and one female, which include the motor boy, were recovered dead from the canal,” he said.

“The three dead bodies, bus and their belongings were handed over to the men of the Nigeria Police, Owode Division.“The agency recovered the vehicle with the aid of its heavy duty equipment crane and towed it off the road to ensure free flow of traffic,” he added.