A pregnant woman and two others have been confirmed
dead in a Lagos boat capsize, just as 16 others have been declared missing.
The incident occurred on Sunday at the Badore area of Ajah as
the boat conveying about 20 passengers was heading to Egbin Ijede.
According to reports, the casualty figure might be
on the high side because none of the passengers wore their life jackets when
the incident occurred.
While two of the passengers were said to have swam
to safety, others, asides the recovered corpses, were yet to be seen.
As at press time, rescue efforts by emergency
workers was still ongoing.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Emergency
Management Agency (LASEMA), however, said it was yet unclear the number of
people on the boat at the time of the accident.
LASEMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Femi Oke
-Osanyintolu, said it was only two bodies that have been recovered so far, just
as he identified one Aniyikaye Oluwaseunfunmi, aged 40.
He said: "A boat mishap occurred at Ipakan
Boat Jetty, Egbin, Ijede, Investigations conducted revealed that the boat was
enroute Badore (Ajah) to Egbin (Ikorodu) with between 17 and 21 passengers on
board.
"The boat allegedly capsized due to
overloading. It was gathered that the boat was overturned by the heavy current.
Three persons were rescued and were
taken to hospital.
"Unfortunately, the lifeless body of an adult
female, identified as Aniyikaye Oluwaseunfunmi, 40, and an unnamed person were
found and bagged by the agency's response team.
"Rescue and recovery efforts continue for the
other missing passengers by LASEMA,
LASWA officials and the Marine Police."
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