13 killed in Lagos boat mishap

From Ayodele Samuel & Akilani Abdullah, Lagos

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), yesterday confirmed that 13 dead bodies have been recovered from a boat accident in Lagos on Tuesday.

NEMA Information Officer South-West, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye told newsmen that the boat capsized at 4th Ave, opposite 41 Road Junction in FESTAC Town on Tuesday night.

Farinloye said the mission to recover the remaining bodies of the victims of the accident has been suspended, adding that the agency is uncertain as to the exact number of persons who were aboard before the accident, but 13 bodies have been recovered while there are six survivors.

He noted that the accident occurred while the boat was trying to cross the passengers from one side of the road to the other over a distance of about 10 metres, adding that the boat had over 15 passengers and confirmed that among the dead were two children, while five persons were still missing and there are six survivors.

Farinloye said a distress call came to the agency at 11.10 p.m. on Tuesday and, “we immediately alerted all the stakeholders, the Navy Special Boat service, the Nigeria Police Marine, the Nigeria Police Disaster Unit, LASEMA, National Inland Waterways Authority to go for the search”.

Also General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Femi Oke- said the surviving victims had been taken to hospital for treatment.

Farinloye also said that over 30 local divers were employed to conduct the underwater search saying it was suspended till yesterday evening.

He, however, assured that all agencies were on the same page and at such, there were no conflicting figures concerning the number of causalities. ‘’Nobody was there when the boat loaded but one of the rescued victims told us there were 24 people on board. Some people said 21 but what we are working with is 24.’’