From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos
About 8 people died on Wednesday and 12 others rescued after a boat capsized between Eko Bridge and Ikorodu waterways in Lagos State, Nigeria’s South-West region.
Local divers were said to have jumped into the water and rescued some people, while the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) officials, along with men of the Nigerian Navy and the Marine policemen patrolled the waters, in a bid to recover more bodies.
According to NEMA’s PRO, Ibrahim Farinloye, the boat took off from Ebute to Majidun in Ikorodu, with 20 people on board and the incident occurred at about 6 pm. 12 people were rescued alive and eight died. He also revealed that as at that time six people were missing.
He noted that the boat is operated by Bell Marine Services and the management of Bell Marine Services had announced yesterday that all occupants on the boat had been recused.
Mr. Farinloye further stated that two people out of the twelve rescued are presenting receiving treatment at the Ikorodu General Hospital.
The incident was the second time in less than three weeks in the waters in and around Lagos waterways.
