Three people have died while five others were rescued after a passenger bus plunged into the Ariyo River along Amuloko Road in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The Oyo State Fire Services Agency confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday by its Chairman, Moroof Akinwande.

According to Akinwande, the agency received a distress call about the accident on Wednesday from a caller identified as Mrs Fadeke Yusuf, prompting the immediate deployment of emergency responders to the scene.

“On arrival, our personnel found a Suzuki bus with registration number LEW 484 XA (Osun) which had lost control and crashed into the river with eight passengers on board,” he said.

He explained that five passengers were rescued alive and taken to Ona-Ara Private Hospital in the Jegede area for medical treatment.

The bodies of three victims were recovered from the river and handed over to officers from the Ogbere Police Division, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Aishat Ibrahim.

Akinwande attributed the crash to reckless driving and urged motorists to observe traffic regulations and drive cautiously to prevent avoidable accidents.

He also commended the support provided during the rescue operation by officials of the Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority (OYRTMA), Ona-Ara Division, and the Chairman of Ona-Ara Local Government, Temitope Kolapo-Glorious.