by ‘Jola Sotubo

A road mishap in Bayelsa State has led to the deaths of no less than 10 persons after a commuter bus plunged into a river around the Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

According to reports, the bus plunged into the Okoso river along the Kaiama-Sampou stretch of the East-West road at around 8.30pm on Saturday.

The accident resulted after the bus, which was reportedly over-speeding, tried to overtake another vehicle and instead somersaulted and ended up in the river.

Vanguard Newspaper reports:

The accident reportedly caused traffic gridlock along the road with the men of the state security outfit, Doo Akpor, assisting in the rescue and evacuation of the corpses to the morgue.

Though there were conflicting reports about the causality figure, while some claimed 10 persons lost their lives in the accident, others said seven corpses were recovered by local divers and sympathizers.

It was gathered that most of the occupants of the ill-fated passenger bus were women and children.

A commercial bus driver, Mr. Emmanuel Eziya, told Vanguard that the ill-fated 18-seater bus was conveying passengers to Yenagoa from a traditional marriage ceremony at Oginigbo in Ughelli South Local Government of Delta State.

He said the bus which was on high speed somersaulted and plunged into the river while attempting to overtake another vehicle on the narrow road.

He said: “Though the river is not too deep, only those who knew how to swim were involved in the rescue operation.”

According to him, the bus driver, popularly known as Student, who operated from the Opolo Motor Park in Yenagoa, was among those that died in the crash.

Miraculously, a nursing mother was said to have survived as she swam out of the river. She however lost her child in the crash.

Eight persons who sustained injuries, it was learnt, are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.