Two dead as boat capsizes in Lagos

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Two people have been reported dead as a boat carrying 17 passengers capsized in the Ikoyi area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The boat was said to have to rammed into a high tension pole flooded with water, leading to the accident.

Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu told PM NEWS that the incident occurred at Powerline, Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, Ikoyi.

He said the Agency responded to distress calls and that upon arrival at the scene, it discovered that a boat conveying (17) passengers from Sandfil heading to Ikorodu had capsized at Powerline.

“Further investigation gathered from the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) officials revealed that the boat driver rammed into a high tension pole flooded by water which led to the incident.

“Unfortunately, two adults lost their lives (a male and a female) and other 15 passengers were unharmed,” he disclosed.

Oke-Osanyintolu said the body of an adult female was retrieved from the water and subsequently transported from the incident’s scene to Lagos State Waterways Agency (LASWA) head office at Falomo before being confirmed dead by the LASEMA Response Unit paramedics.

He added that the adult female’s remains had been bagged and awaiting the arrival of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) officials.

“The search for the body of the adult male is ongoing.

“The Agency responders alongside LRU Paramedics, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Waterways Authority and Nigeria Police Force were joint responders at the incident’s scene,” he said.