All the passengers of an 18-seater bus were feared dead on Thursday after the bus plunged into the Arun River at Ogere, near Ijebu Ode in Ogun state, western Nigeria. The accident happened on the Sagamu-Benin expressway.

Travellers stop at the River Arun, in Ogere

The Public Information Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the incident.

He said  rescue operation had begun.

“NEMA, in strong partnership with the Ogun State Government, Ijebu East Local Government Council, the Federal Road Safety Commission and the police have mobilised local volunteers and divers to begin recovery of the victims,’’ Farinloye said.

He noted, however, that only two bodies had been recovered from the scene.

In 2012, a 32-seater bus similarly, plunged into the river, killing 22 people heading for a wedding. (NAN)