KEHINDE FAJOBI
Four bodies have been recovered while 12 are still missing as a boat capsized in Lagos en route Ibeshe from Mile 2 in the Ojo area of the state on Friday, July 8.
As the search and rescue operations are still ongoing, General Manager of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, confirmed that four bodies have been recovered so far as at Saturday morning.
Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Engr. Sarat Braimah earlier confirmed the incident in a statement.
She said, “At about 7.45p.m. today (yesterday), July 8, the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, and Lagos State waterways authority received a distress call of an incident on the waterways.
“A W19 passenger fibre boat carrying 16 people capsized along the Ojo area of the state.
“The boat, going from Mile 2 to Ibeshe in Ojo axis, broke the waterways rules of late travelling by setting sail at 7.45pm.
“As it set out, the tide drifted the boat to a stationary barge which caused the boat to overturn.
“It is said that all passengers on board, which includes children, were not all putting on their life jackets.
“The Search and Rescue team of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), National Inland Waterways (NIWA) and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were immediately mobilized to the scene of the incident.
“But, unfortunately, they could only find the boat after several hours, while efforts are still ongoing to locate the victims.
“The boat is currently in the custody of Marine Police. The Boat Captain is also unaccounted for as at the time of this press release,” she said.