Tuesday 28th December 2021: There was panic and pandemonium among residents of oworo yesterday as tragedy struck, after a 17- seater commercial bus plunged into the lagoon, at Oworoshoki area of the , in Lagos state, where a child drowned before help could come.

Reports gathered that the passengers were on their way to the palace of a traditional ruler when the bus skidded off its lane and plunged into the lagoon.

It took the efforts of some youths, who abandoned the party they were having closeby when incident and joined three fishermen to rescue the victims.

Policemen from Oworoshoki division later joined members of the community in the rescue operation. Some of the rescued passengers, who sustained injuries were taken to an undisclosed hospital.

One of the eye witnesses who spoke to journalists, Ms Sadia Adefarati, said sympathizers and residents had done the needful before the arrival of emergency agencies, saying: “Lagos State Transport Management Authority, LASTMA, personnel in the area tried their best but were hindered by lack of equipment. Thank God for some residents of the community, who left what they were doing to rescue the passengers. All the passengers have been rescued except a baby who was recovered dead. As I speak, only the Vanagon bus is still in the canal.”

South West Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the incident.

He said, “ All passengers but a child were rescued by members of the community.”