Feb. 27, 2024

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) says a boat mishap in Ikorodu, Lagos State, on Monday night, has left 3 persons dead, while eleven others were rescued.

Mrs. Wuraola Alake, Head, Public Affairs Unit, LASWA said these on Tuesday in Lagos.

“At about 7.17 p.m. on Feb. 26, LASWA got a distress call that a 17 seater boat named Oluwaseyi Funmi, loaded with 14 passengers, was involved in an accident.

“The accident occurred along the Ibeshe/Ikorodu channel en route Ebute Ipakodo Ikorodu taken off from Addax jetty, Lagos.

“It was gathered that the capsized boat and another passenger boat (yet to be identified) were engaging in speeding contest causing strong waves that capsized one of the boats while the other boat ran to Ibeshe jetty to call for help.

“Local operators from Ibeshe jetty were the first responders; the LASWA team joined immediately after in the rescue operations in which 11 passengers were rescued with three casualties,” she said.

Alake said that no manifest was filled at the Addax Jetty before passengers boarded the boat.

She said that nine of the 11 rescued passengers, however, later filled the manifest at the Ibeshe ferry terminal after they had been rescued.

“Two other passengers refused to put down their details.

“LASWA and other first responders were able to rescue 11 alive while the 3 casualties were recovered and handed over to the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority LASEMA and the State Environmental Health Management Unit (SEHMU),” she said. (NAN)