By Seun Ibiyemi
Three persons have been confirmed dead and 11 others rescued when a boat loaded with 14 passengers capsized on Monday along the Ibeshe/Ikorodu channel in Lagos.
This sad incident is happening barely a week after a female passenger lost her life when a passenger ferry traveling from Addax jetty to Ibeshe collided with a submerged shoreline concrete at a construction site around the power line corridor at the Lekki Ikoyi Link Bridge.
According to a statement by the Head, Public Affairs Unit, Lagos State Waterways Authority ( LASWA), Wuraola Alake, the accident occurred around 7.17 pm when the capsized boat and another passenger boat engaged in a speeding contest, causing strong waves leading to the capsizing of one boat.
The statement said LASWA received a distress call and immediately dispatched a team to join local operators in the rescue efforts.
LASWA revealed that no manifest was filled at the Addax Jetty before the passengers boarded the boat.
However, after the rescue operation, nine out of the 11 passengers filled the manifest at the Ibeshe ferry terminal, the statement said.
The rescued passengers and the three casualties were handed over to the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) and the State Environmental Health Management Unit (SEHMU).
The statement reads, “At about 7.17 pm yesterday, the 26th of February 2024, LASWA got a distress call that a 17 seater boat named Oluwaseyifunmi, loaded with 14 passengers, was involved in an accident along the Ibeshe/Ikorodu channel en route Ebute ipakodo ikorodu taken off from Addax jetty, Lagos.
“It was gathered that the capsized boat and another passenger boat (yet to be identified) were engaging in a speeding contest causing strong waves that capsized one of the boats while the other boat ran to Ibeshe jetty to call for help.
“Local operators from Ibeshe jetty were the first responders; the LASWA team joined immediately after in the rescue operations in which 11 passengers were rescued with three casualties
“No Manifest was filled at the Addax Jetty before passengers boarded the boat but 9 out of the 11 rescued passengers later filled the manifest at the Ibeshe ferry terminal after they had been rescued while other 2 passengers refused to put down their details.
“LASWA and other first responders were able to rescue 11 alive while the 3 casualties were recovered and handed over to the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority LASEMA and the State Environmental Health Management Unit SEHMU.”