Lagos State was struck by another boat accident yesterday barely one week after the last one at Ijede,Ikorodu which claimed seven lives.
Yesterday’s mishap occurred in Badagry with two persons feared dead.
Eight passengers and two crew members were aboard the boat which left Ebute Iworo in Ajido in the morning enroute Daddy Luwi.
It reportedly hit logs of wood midway into its journey and capsized.
Eight persons were rescued although with injuries while the driver and a yet-to-be identified woman were still being looked for at press time.
Only four of the injured were said to have their life jackets on at the time of the accident.
The injured were treated by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident.
NEMA’s Southwest spokesperson, Ibrahim Farinloye said emergency workers were immediately deployed to the scene.
He said:”Unlike the previous incident which was caused by sand dredgers, this incident happened because the boat hit a log of wood and capsized, upturning its passengers into the water.
“The boat is called a fibre boat because it has an engine. It happened in Badagry. It happened that the open canoe hit a log while sailing, lost balance and capsized with 10 people onboard.
“Emergency responders like the Marine police, LASWA, NIWA and local divers have rescued eight people while the search for a woman and the driver of the canoe continues.
“The correct figure of those rescued alive is eight. Also, out of the eight, only four wore life jackets while others did not.
“The issues are being handled at the Marine Police Office, Badagry. The canoe took off from Idagba with 10 passengers and dropped them at Iworo and picked eight passengers at Iworo to go back before it had the problem.”
General Manager, LASEMA, Michael Akindele, said the agency received a distress call at about 10:47am and immediately activated response.
He, however, stated that only four people were rescued and treated by LASAMBUS.
“The cause of the incident and number of passengers on board are yet to be ascertained.
“Four people were rescued and were treated by LASAMBUS and have been discharged.
“It was reported that the boat left Ebute Iworo Jetty enroute another community known as Daddy Luwi.
“Search and rescue is still ongoing, as well as investigation to ascertain the number of passengers on board.
“LASEMA, LASWA with other responders are still on ground. I want to emphasise the use of functioning life jackets by boat operators and passengers as well as other safety precautions on waterways,” Akindele explained.
