Five d!e as car plunges into river in Kogi

• A car carrying mourners from a burial ceremony in Oga, Kogi State, veered off the road and plunged into Omi River in Yagba West Local Government Area, resulting in the loss of five lives.
• The incident occurred around 4:30 PM on Friday, raising concerns about the absence of a rail guard by the bridge.
• Yagba West Local Government Chairman confirmed the accident, attributing it to overspeeding and stating that the bodies have been taken to the morgue.

Tragedy struck in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State as a car carrying mourners returning from a burial ceremony in Oga veered off the road and plunged into Omi River, claiming the lives of five individuals.

The fatal incident took place on Friday at approximately 4:30 PM, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the absence of a rail guard by the bridge contributed to the accident, exacerbating concerns over the safety of the area.

Hon. Pius Kolawole, the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government, confirmed the heartbreaking incident.

He revealed that the victims, who had attended the burial ceremony in Oga, were en route to Lokoja when the accident occurred.

The bodies of the deceased have been transported to the morgue, adding to the profound sadness that has enveloped the region.

Chairman Kolawole shed light on the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, stating, “There is a large dam in the vicinity with a canal intended for irrigation.

It is a shortcut for those traveling from that area, particularly on their way to Lokoja.

However, the road is narrow and runs alongside the canal. As the victims were traveling from Oda, they opted to take the canal road.

Unfortunately, there is a sharp corner on that route. Based on information gathered, the driver was speeding, lost control, and the vehicle plunged into the river. Tragically, all five occupants of the car lost their lives.”

Efforts to obtain a statement from Steven Dawulung, the Kogi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

Despite attempts to reach Dawulung through calls and text messages, no response was received.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety measures and the need for infrastructure improvements to protect the lives of motorists.

The local community mourns the loss of the five individuals and hopes that authorities will take immediate action to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.