BREAKING NEWS: Lagos Boat Mishap Claims 7 Lives, 8 People Still Missing

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Saturday, January 30th, 2016

By Ayo Balogun, Lagos

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Seven people have died as a passenger boat capsized in Ikorodu area of Lagos, Nigeria today, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has confirmed.

The 20-passenger capacity boat was said to be conveying 17 passengers from Ijede enroute Badore when it capsized at about 10.20am on Saturday.

Mr. Michael Akindele, General Manager, LASEMA, said the rescue operations was carried out by the combined effort of Lagos State Water Ways Authority, Marine Police, National Inland Water Ways Authority, Emergency Response Team of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA; Lagos State Fire Service and the local divers.

According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that the boat belonged to Aki Marine had 17 passenger and two crew members on board.

He said the boat was said to have collided at a dredging point enroute Ijede, confirming that seven passengers were dead, while 4 male others were rescued and were presently receiving treatment at Ijede General Hospital.

Akindele added that rescue operation is still on to recover the remaining eight passengers still missing.

He said the agency is still expecting the boat manifest as the rescue operation is ongoing while further investigation would be carried out by the appropriate agencies to ascertain the actual cause of the accident.

Akindele advised boat operators and passengers to observe necessary safety measures such as the use of life jacket and regular checks of boat facilities before embarking on water transportation.