A tragic boat accident at Imore Town, located in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State, has left about 21 passengers feared dead.
The unfortunate incident occurred when two unregistered passenger boats, both carrying 16 passengers each, collided in the middle of the lagoon.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, Lagos State police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said that the police received a distress call regarding the collision on Monday.
“A distress call was received at Ilashe Division that two unregistered passenger boats, both having 16 passengers onboard, collided at the middle of the lagoon at Imore Town. In the process, the boats capsized and passengers got drowned with the goods,” Hundeyin explained.
Emergency responders, including teams of conventional and marine policemen, as well as local divers, were swiftly deployed to the scene.
“11 of the passengers were rescued with injuries, and they were immediately rushed to the Navy Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for urgent medical attention,” Hundeyin said, adding that efforts to recover the bodies of the remaining victims were ongoing.
The police spokesperson further assured that a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
As rescue operations continue, authorities remain hopeful of recovering more victims, while the injured passengers receive treatment at the hospital.
