Seven Die in Boat Mishap in Lagos

 

At the least seven people have died as a passenger boat capsized in Ikorodu area of Lagos State, on Saturday, 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.