Boat mishap: 2 dead, 1 missing in Lagos

Two people have drowned and one person missing in a fishing boat mishap at Ibeshe, Ikorodu area of Lagos state on Monday evening.

General manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Mr Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, said in a statement made available to newsmen, that four people were rescued alive in the mishap.

Emmanuel said: “A boat mishap occurred at about 7 p.m. today Monday the 31st of August 2020, around Offin Ibeshe Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

“A fishing boat from Makoko Community with Seven passengers onboard, five adults including the boat captain and two toddlers, capsised into the Lagos lagoon while heading to Offin area in Ikorodu.

“Further inquires revealed that the cause of the incidence was the rough water current usually recorded around the area.”

The general manager said that the first responders at the scene of the incident was a passengers ferry that witnessed the incident before the arrival of LASWA rescue team.

“Inquiries reveal that the fishing boat, which was clearly operating outside its fishing capability and therefore not equipped with necessary safety gadgets for passengers ferry operation, carried the occupants who are all related and headed to Offin for a relative’s funeral.

“Upon further investigations, it was revealed that all Seven passengers onboard were not wearing a lifejacket. Four passengers were rescued alive, two fatalities and one passenger missing.

“The men of the LASEMA and Marine Police have been contacted to support the ongoing search operation for the remaining victim while further investigation is ongoing,” he said.