By Ken Chiwendu
At least 21 passengers are feared dead in an accident involving two boats at Imore town in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The two boats, each ferrying 16 passengers were said to have collided and capsised in the middle of the lagoon.
According to a press statement issued yesterday by the Lagos State Police Spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, the incident was reported to the Ilashe police division at about 7.00 p.m.on Monday.
He said emergency responders, including marine police and local divers, were swiftly mobilised to the scene and rescued 11 passengers who sustained injuries.
The statement read: “On October 7, 2024, at about 7’00pm, a distress call was received at the Ilashe Division reporting that two unregistered passenger boats, each carrying 16 passengers, allegedly collided in the middle of the lagoon at Imore town. As a result, the boats capsized, and the passengers drowned along with their goods.
“Based on the report, teams of conventional and marine policemen, local divers, and other emergency responders were swiftly mobilised to the scene, where 11 passengers were rescued with injuries and rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention.”
Hundeyin confirmed that efforts to recover their bodies are ongoing adding that an investigation into the incident is in progress.
