By Esther Nworie
The remains of a retired Chief Superintendent of Police and 14 other occupants of the bus that plunged into Ebonyi River have been recovered.
The CSP identified as Livinus Mbah and 14 others were declared missing after a 608 bus was involved in a lone accident and plunged into Akaeze River, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi state on Friday.
A 608 bus with registration number, UKP 78 XA had carried 32 members of Christ Peculiar Church of Nigeria Enugu State branch to attend a burial ceremony of their pastor in Nguzu Edda, Afikpo South Local Government Area of Ebonyi state on Friday when it plunged into the river.
Of the about 32 passagers inside the bus at the time of the accident, five of the victims including the driver, Friday Nwonu, from Ikwo local government area of the State were recovered on the day of the crash alive.
However, one of them, a woman died at St Denise hospital Akaeze were they were rushed to while 14 more corpses were recovered on Saturday afternoon after a crane pulled out the bus from the river.
Only four persons were still alive and are in critical condition .
DSP Loveth Odah, State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the discovery of the remains of the retired CSP and 14 others while giving an update on the auto crash on Sunday.
“An update of the fatal motor accident at Ivo River in Ivo LGA of the State, three (3) more corpses have been recovered among them is lifeless body of CSP Livinus Mbah Rtd. The corpses have been deposited at Martha Memorial Hospital Afikpo for preservation. Effort is on to recover the remaining Ten (10) persons.
“the driver of the said 608 coaster bus with Reg no. UKP 78X Nwaonu Chinedu a native of Ikwo LGA of the State, he is responding to treatment along side with three others as one yet to identify female victim was confirmed dead by a medical Doctor on arrival at Dennis Hospital Akaeke in the Area. The driver narrated that he conveyed 32 members of the Christ Peculiar Church of Nigeria Enugu State branch to attend a burial ceremony at Nguzu Edda in Afikpo South LGA of the State.
“14 corpses have been recovered (7 female and 7 male) together with the 608 Vehicle. The corpses have deposited at Martha Memorial hospital mortuary Afikpo preservation.
“The Executive Governor of Ebonyi State visited the scene of incident together with the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State who described the incident as very unfortunate one. He urges road users to avoid speed/reckless driving especially in this Ember months.”
On her part, the state Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mrs. Stella Uchegbu on Saturday said “we have recovered the vehicle, we have 14 persons; seven males, seven females all adults and they are all dead. They have been taken to Mater hospital mortuary Afikpo.
“But they are still divers from Port-Harcourt who are there searching for more bodies because 14 bodies today and 5 bodies yesterday is 19 as against the expected 32 persons. So, if you do the calculation, you can see that there are more persons expected to be recovered. The divers are still around and they are looking for more bodies.”
