Another boat disaster happened on Friday night at Mile 2 in Lagos State, just three days after the tragic boat accident that claimed the lives of two passengers in the Ikorodu region of Lagos State.
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWALagos )’s Area Manager, Mrs. Sarat Braimah, confirmed the occurrence in a statement on Saturday.
Braimah reported that 16 passengers from the unfortunate boat had not yet been located.
“At about 7.45 p.m., on July 8, the National Inland Waterways Authority 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 7.45 p.m.,” she said.
Braimah said that the tide of the water drifted the boat to a stationary barge which caused it 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) were immediately mobilised to the scene of the incident but unfortunately could only find the boat after several hours.
“Efforts are still ongoing to locate the victims.
“The Boat Captain is also unaccounted for as at the time of this press release,” she said.
Braimah mentioned that the Marine Police were currently in charge of the boat.
