Two persons have been confirmed dead, four rescued and one person missing after Lagos State recorded another boat accident on Monday.
This time, the accident involved a passenger boat which capsized in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Investigation revealed that the passengers and the operator had Monday left Makoko for Offin in Ikorodu where they were expected to attend a burial ceremony of their relative.
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The passengers, who were all related, left Makoko in Lagos Mainland for Ikorodu with a fishing boat.
The boat, however, by 7pm could not withstand the water current usually recorded around the scene of the mishap.
Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) said the boat overturned in Offin, Ibeshe axis of Ikorodu, adding that five adults including the boat captain and two toddlers were among the passengers on board.
LASWA General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, while confirming the incident, said the fishing boat was clearly operating outside its fishing capability.
He noted that further investigation revealed that the boat was not equipped with necessary safety gadgets including lifejackets, for a passenger ferry operation.
Emmanuel said the first responder to the incident scene was a passenger ferry that witness the incident before the arrival of LASWA rescue team and narrated what transpired before the boat overturned.
According to him, “Upon further investigations, it was revealed that all seven passengers on board were not wearing a lifejacket. Four passengers were rescued alive, two fatalities were recorded, while one passenger is missing.
“The men of LASEMA and Marine Police have been contacted to support the ongoing search operation for the remaining victim while further investigation is ongoing.”
Idowu Sowunmi
