Ojo boat mishap: Death toll rises to 15, rescue operation continues

IBRAHIM QUADRI

Additional 11 bodies have been recovered from the ill-fated boat that capsized enroute Ibeshe in Ojo Local Government from Mile 2 terminal area of Lagos State, increasing the death toll to 15.

The bodies were recovered by the emergency officials including National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), during the ongoing search and rescue operations in the waters.

As gathered, two more bodies were reported still missing from the passengers that board the boat in Mile 2 axis of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government.

The boat mishap, as gathered, occurred when the passenger fibre boat en route Ibeshe axis of Ojo, hit a stationary barge along the Mile 2 waterways which caused the boat to overturn.

Daily Champion learnt that the tragedy occurred after the boat captain left the terminal some minutes past 7pm, breaking the waterways rules of late travelling set by the government.

Recall that four passengers’ bodies were recovered from the 16 including children, that went missing on Saturday after their boat capsized.

Sources among the rescue team disclosed that the four bodies were recovered from the water by the rescue team from government agencies that responded to the distress calls.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye, had disclosed that a 52-year-old male and a 20-year-old female bodies were recovered during the ongoing operations and that efforts have been intensified to check for survivors and recover more bodies.

Other agencies engaging in the rescue operations were said to be the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), National Inland Waterways (NIWA) Nigerian Marine Police and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).