A tragic boat accident in Lagos on Monday night claimed the lives of at least 21 people. Two passenger boats, each carrying 16 people, collided and capsized in the Imore Lagoon.
According to Lagos police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, the incident was reported to the Ilashe police division around 7 p.m. local time. Rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the scene and managed to save 11 survivors, who were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
“Two unregistered passenger boats…capsized, and the passengers drowned along with their goods,” Hundeyin said. “Teams of conventional and marine policemen, local divers, and other emergency responders were swiftly mobilised to the scene, where 11 passengers were rescued with injuries.”
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident and said rescue efforts were ongoing to recover the bodies of the victims and their belongings.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident and have warned against the use of unregistered boats on the waterways.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
