Boat mishap claims 21 lives in Lagos, 11 rescued

A boat accident has claimed no fewer than 21 lives at Imore town in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the incident on Tuesday in Lagos, said the police received a distress call about the accident on Monday that two unregistered passenger boats, both having 16 passengers onboard, collided in the middle of the lagoon at Imore Town.

He said that boats in the process capsized and passengers got drowned with the goods, adding that emergency responders consequently stormed the scene.

“Teams of conventional/marine policemen, local divers, and other emergency responders were swiftly mobilised to the scene where 11 of the passengers were rescued with injuries,” he said.

According to him, the injured were rushed to Navy Hospital, Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention, while search and rescue operations is being intensified to recover the victims’ bodies.

He further stated that an investigation is ongoing into the matter.