12 rescued as bus plunges into Lagos canal

More than 12 passengers on a commercial bus have been rescued after the bus veered off course and skidded into the canal in Lagos on Sunday.

The incident happened at the Cement bus stop on the Lagos-Abeokuta highway in the evening.

According to an eyewitness, this was recorded due to the recklessness of the Vanagon bus driver who was involved in an accident with a Toyota Camry car with license plate, BDG 963 BT.

The eyewitness added that the unidentified bus then skidded into the canal, leaving its 12 passengers more or less injured before help arrived.

During this time, no lives were lost.

Confirming the incident, the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the victims were seven men and five women who all were rescued and taken to hospital.

He gave the details as follows: "Upon arrival at the scene, an accident involving a commercial bus (Vanagon) with an unknown registration number and a Camry car with registration number BDG 963BT was encountered on the spot.

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“Further information from the scene revealed that the accident occurred as a result of reckless driving by the commercial bus driver, which resulted in the commercial bus falling into the canal.

"The 12 injured passengers (seven men and five women) were rescued and transported to hospital," said the boss of LASEMA.

Osanyintolu said the driver of the car (an adult male) was slightly injured and was treated at the scene by the ambulance crew.

“The LRT team, alongside LRU paramedics and Nigerian police, had responded to the scene.

"The agency's Hiab is dispatched to retrieve the commercial bus from the canal."

He said the operation ended at 8:19 p.m.