Man, daughter die as SUV plunges into river

Tragedy struck in the early hours of yesterday when a Sports Utility Van plunged into a river, killing the driver and his 11-year-old daughter.

National Mirror gathered that the incident occurred on Ikota Bridge, inward Ajah area of Lekki, when the middle-aged man, Mr. Sunday Megba, his wife, Sade, and their daughter, Lola, were coming from a Celestial Church in the area. But the wife was lucky to escape. According to eyewitness accounts, the incident, which occurred around 1.00am, threw residents into confusion. It was gathered that the family were heading towards Ajah when the SUV fell off the bridge and plunged into the river.

The woman fell off the jeep while it was somersaulting and survived though, with serious injuries while the man and his daughter plunged into the river before help could come.

Local divers, officials of the Lekki Construction Company (LCC), Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) and other agencies had hectic time recovering the bodies of the victims and the jeep from the river.

There was confusion over what led to the accident, but a LASEMA official, who did not want his name mentioned, said the jeep somersaulted many times before it eventually plunged into the river. He could not tell whether the car had a burst tyre or brake failure.

A local diver, Francis Agboglo, was said to have mobilised others for the rescue operations, but succeeded in bringing out the bodies of the father and daughter after many hours. Sade was rushed to the Peninsula Hospital for treatment.

The bodies of the victims have been deposited at the Peninsula Hospital. Sade and her husband were said to be traders at Itedo area of Lekki Roundabout. LASEMA General Manager, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident.

He said: “A jeep with a family of three fell off the Ikota Bridge inward Ajah and plunged into the river. “The wife has been rescued and taken to the hospital while dead bodies of the father and daughter were recovered by Ilaje divers.

“Rescue operation is still ongoing by LASEMA, Lekki Construction Company and other emergency responders. Efforts are being made to recover the jeep from the river.”