In a heartbreaking incident on Monday night, at least twenty people have reportedly lost their lives following the capsizing of two passenger boats in Lagos. The accident occurred around 7 PM at the Imore lagoon when the boats, each carrying 16 passengers, collided.
The exact locations from which the boats departed and their intended destinations remain unclear. Police spokesman SP Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the tragedy, stating that of the 32 passengers on board, only 11 were rescued. The boats involved in the collision were reportedly unregistered, prompting an investigation that has been initiated at the Ilashe Police Division.
Hundeyin noted that all passengers and their goods drowned when the boats capsized. Rescuers, including police, local divers, and other emergency responders, managed to locate and assist the 11 survivors, who sustained injuries and were promptly transported to the Naval Town Hospital in Ojo for medical treatment.
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Search and rescue operations for the remaining victims are still ongoing. Efforts to reach the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) for further comments were unsuccessful, as calls to Permanent Secretary Dr. Femi Osayintolu went unanswered.
This tragic event underscores the urgent need for regulatory oversight and safety measures in the water transport sector to prevent such devastating incidents in the future.
