Search Continues for Five Missing Passengers After Boat Crash in Lagos
The Lagos State Government has launched a rescue operation following a boat accident that occurred on Monday evening in Imore, located in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area.
Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), confirmed the incident in a statement released on Tuesday. The collision involved two vessels: the “Only God 13,” which was carrying 15 passengers from Ebutte Ero to Badagry, and a wooden boat transporting 10 passengers from Alakija to Imore.
Emmanuel reported that all passengers aboard the “Only God 13” were safely rescued, while five individuals from the wooden boat suffered injuries and are currently receiving medical care. However, search efforts are ongoing to locate five additional passengers who are still missing.
The statement elaborated, “The collision occurred around 7:00 PM, resulting in a capsizing of both boats. While all 15 passengers from the ‘Only God 13’ were rescued and are awaiting the retrieval of their belongings, five passengers from the wooden boat are injured, and five others remain unaccounted for.”
In response to the accident, officials from LASWA and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) held an emergency meeting with local leaders and the State Marine Officer to coordinate rescue operations and offer support to affected families.
Emmanuel emphasized the collaborative efforts of LASWA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Marine Police, and local divers, all working diligently to find the missing individuals.
According to Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, the injured have been transported to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for treatment. He noted that each boat was reportedly carrying 16 passengers at the time of the collision.
“On October 7, 2024, around 7 PM, we received a distress call regarding the incident, which involved two unregistered passenger boats colliding in the lagoon. As a result, the boats capsized, leading to several passengers going missing along with their belongings,” Hundeyin stated.
He confirmed that both conventional and marine police units, alongside local divers, were deployed to the scene to assist in rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the National Inland Waterways Authority has announced the arrest of the manager of the “Only God” ferry. Preliminary investigations indicated that the ferry strayed from its designated channel, colliding with the wooden boat due to the captain’s obstructed vision, largely caused by the boat’s cargo.
The authority has cited negligence and non-compliance with safety regulations as reasons for the arrest, emphasizing the importance of adhering to operational safety standards to prevent future incidents. Further legal actions are pending, with the investigation continuing until the ferry’s captain is located to determine if additional c
harges will be filed.
