Tragedy struck late Monday evening when a passenger boat capsized along Ibeshe-Ikorodu channel with three persons, two males and a female recovered dead, while 11 others were rescued alive.
According to eyewitnesses, the unfortunate incident occurred around 7:30 pm when the boat unexpectedly experienced a mechanical failure.
Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), verified the occurrence.
According to Oke-Osanyitolu, “The agency responded to distress calls concerning a Passenger Boat which took off from Addax Jetty around 7pm.
“On arrival, it was discovered that passenger ferry boat named Oluwaseyifunmi carrying 14 people had capsized due to a suspected mechanical fault and was rapidly submerged following its departure from the aforementioned terminal.
“A combined team of Water guards, the search and rescue team of the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, and agency responders were mobilized to the scene of the incident, leading to the rescue of 11 persons alive who have been taken to Ibeshe Ferry Terminal for treatment.
“Three passengers were retrieved dead and Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SEHMU has been tasked with transferring their bodies to state mortuary,” Oke-Osanyitolu affirmed.
In the meantime, LASWA and pertinent authorities have initiated an investigation into the cause of the incident, sources revealed.