Ikorodu Boat Mishap: 8 Feared Dead, 12 Rescued
By Olorunfemi Ojo
About 8 people died on Wednesday while 12 others were rescued after a boat capsized between Eko Bridge and Ikorodu waterways in Lagos State, Nigeria
According to Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA spokesman, the boat carrying the victims took off from Ebute to Majidun in Ikorodu with 20 people on board when the incident happened at about 6 PM.
Local divers were said to have jumped into the water when the accident was noticed and rescued some people, while the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials along with men of the Nigerian Navy and the Marine policemen patrolled the water in a bid to recover more bodies.
12 people were rescued alive while eight dead bodies were recovered.
Mr Farinloye revealed that as at that time six people were missing.
He noted that the boat is operated by Bell Marine Services and the management of Bell Marine Services had announced on today(Thursday) that all occupants on the boat had been rescued.
Mr. Farinloye further stated that two people out of the twelve rescued were receiving treatment at the Ikorodu General Hospital.
Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Kayode Opeifa, while speaking on Channels Television said the accident may have been caused by underwater obstacles which led to the boat capsizing, adding,investigations were on.
Mr Opeifa while assuring the people that government was spending time on dredging the waterways and installing buoys to show drivers the correct waterways disclosed that one person was still missing.