Sokoto state government has announced the recovery of five bodies from the victims of the commercial vehicle that plunged into the river in the state last week.
The recovery followed the directive by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal that the bodies should be recovered and buried accordingly.
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The incident occurred along Sokoto-Illela road when the vehicle crushed an Okada rider and subsequently plunged into Zalzalu river.
It was earlier speculated that the vehicle was conveying eight people including the driver.
“Having been briefed, the Governor instructed the state Ministry of Home Affairs to take charge of the recovery effort.
“Promptly, all relevant agencies- the state and Federal Fire Services, the state emergency management agency, the Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps, as well as some expert divers from neighbouring Kebbi state were mobilized to the scene.
“The team worked all night and succeeded on the first day in bringing out the cadaver of one victim.
“The following day, two more bodies were found, just as an equal number of bodies were recovered on the third day.
“All the bodies were deposited at the Sokoto State Specialist Hospital and Uthman Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH),” the spokesman of the Governor, Muhammad Bello told Daily Trust.
He added that the car and the motorcycle involved in the accident were yet to be recovered.
The state ministry of justice was said to have conducted an inquest into the incident which led to the identification of some of the victims by their relatives.
Among the victims were one, Shuaibu Mai Maciji Isa, a snake charmer and two of his apprentices.
The victims, Daily Trust learnt, hailed from Acida in Wurno local government area of the state and they were all buried according to Islamic rites.
Tambuwal, however, condoled the families of the victims, praying God to grant them eternal rest.
