At least five people were rescued alive, while three others were recovered dead after a passenger bus plunged into the Ariyo River along Amuloko Road in Ibadan.
The Chairman of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Moroof Akinwande, confirmed the incident in a statement released to journalists on Thursday in Ibadan.
He explained that the agency received a distress call on Wednesday from a resident, Mrs. Fadeke Yusuf, reporting the accident, prompting emergency responders to quickly move to the scene.
According to Akinwande, officials discovered a Suzuki bus with registration number LEW 484 XA from Osun State carrying eight passengers that had lost control and crashed into the river.
He said five of the occupants were rescued alive and taken to Ona-Ara Private Hospital in the Jegede area for treatment, while the bodies of three victims were recovered from the river.
The deceased were handed over to officers from the Ogbere Divisional Police Headquarters, led by ASP Aishat Ibrahim.
Akinwande blamed the crash on reckless driving and urged motorists to drive responsibly and follow road safety regulations to prevent avoidable accidents.
He also commended the assistance provided during the rescue operation by officials of the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) in the Ona Ara Division and the Chairman of Ona Ara Local Government, Glorious Temitope.
