Wale Jagun
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA ) has commenced search and rescue operations to recover the remaining bodies of passengers that were involved in boat mishap on Friday night.
It gathered that six dead bodies were recovered, while seven people rescued in the boat mishap.
No fewer than 22 passengers were on board the boat which left Ebute-Ero Jetty to Ikorodu.
THE IMPACT gathered that the boat capsized around 8 pm en route Ikorodu jetty terminal, Ipakodo.
Aside from the LASEMA Response Team (LRT), other agencies that responded to the incident were men of Nigeria Police Force Ipakodo division, Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) and Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA).
According to information released by LASEMA, it says that:
“On getting to the scene of the incident, the LASEMA Response Team, Lion Squad, at Agbowa discovered that a boat en route Ikorodu jetty terminal from Ebute – Ero (Lagos Island) via Lagos waterways capsized at the wee hours of Friday, 4th July, 2020 at Ipakodo ferry terminal.
“Unfortunately six adult females lost their lives to the incident and were recovered by local divers. The boat captain and his assistant could not be found as a search and rescue effort is ongoing to recover the victims.
It was gathered that recovered bodies have been deposited at Ikorodu General Hospital morgue
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that LATWA officials were unable to provide the manifest to ascertain the exact number of passengers on the boat that capsized.
“All efforts by the LASEMA Team to get the manifest of the boat proved abortive as the LASWA Officials at Ikorodu jetty could not establish the number of passengers on board from Ebute – Ero” LASEMA said
Dr. Olufemi Damilola Osanyintolu, the Director General/CEO LASEMA, noted that the huge investment of the Lagos State Government in the sub – sector is to encourage water transportation and the need for Lagosians to explore it as an alternative means of transportation due to congestion on our roads.
He added that: “it is important for all passengers and boat operators to imbibe safety culture, and also comply with the rules and regulations of the regulatory bodies in charge of water transportation and safety in the State/
He added that proper investigation is ongoing by the security operatives to ascertain the real cause of the incident.
