Twenty four hours after a 608 bus plunged into Akaeze River in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, four persons out of 32 passengers who were on board have been rescued alive as the State Police Command on Sunday announced the recovery of more dead bodies of victims.
Recall that on Friday, a Mercedes Benz 608 bus conveying 32 persons enroute a burial ceremony in Ebonyi, while trying to overtake a trailer, the driver lost control and the bus jump into the River at Akaeze bridge in Akaeze development centre.
WITHIN NIGERIA learnt that the survivors including the driver of the bus, Mr. Nwaonu Chinedu, a native of Ikwo Local Government Area of the state, are receiving treatment in a nearby private hospital.
It was gathered that dead body of a police officer, one CSP Livinus Mbah Rtd, was among 23 dead bodies recently recovered from the River.
According to Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, DSP Loveth Odah, more dead bodies are yet to be recovered from the river.
Odah in a statement statement, said “An update of the fatal motor accident at Ivo River in Ivo LGA of the State, more corpses have been recovered among them is lifeless body of CSP Livinus Mbah Rtd, making a totally number of twenty three (23) victims.”
“The corpses have been deposited at Martha Memorial Hospital Afikpo for preservation. Efforts are on to recover the remaining 10 persons,” the command noted.
The ill-fated bus with Reg no. UKP 78 XA was hired by Christ Peculiar Church of Nigeria, Enugu State branch to convey its members to the burial ceremony.