Five dead, 17 rescued in Ikorodu boat mishap

LAGOS State government yesterday confirmed that five people died and 17 rescued in the boat mishap that occurred in Ikorodu. While three of the deceased were recovered dead, two others died in the hospital after a 21-passenger boat drowned in Oke Ira Nla, Ajah-Bayeku.

Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Abisola Kamson, confirmed the incident involving a Bayeku Ferry Association commercial boat carrying 20 passengers and two crewmembers.

The incident occurred three days after the state Waterways Authority commenced distribution of 2,400 life jackets to students of riverine areas, beginning with Sabokoji Jetty in Amuwo Odofin local government.

Kamson said all passengers onboard were wearing life jackets, which helped in the recovery of 17 people that are now recuperating in the hospital. The Guardian gathered that the incident occurred barely five minutes after the boat left Oke-Ira jetty for Bayeku after its propeller got stuck leading to the mishap.

There were conflicting accounts on the cause of the incident as some people attributed it to over speeding while others claimed it was as a result of fishing nets, which hooked the engine propeller.

Preliminary investigation revealed that aside the mechanical fault that developed when the steering cable connected to the engine propeller cut, the captain of the boat was possibly also over-speeding, adding that he is presently being questioned by the Marine Police.

She stressed that the state government would leave no stone unturned to drive aggressive campaign and enforcement of guidelines for commercial boat operators.