It was a sad way to begin the new week in Amuwo-Odofin as at least 21 passengers were feared drowned and missing in a tragic boat accident that occurred on Monday, October 7th 2024 at the Ijegun Imore town in the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Tragedy struck when two boats, each ferrying 16 passengers, collided and capsized in the middle of the lagoon.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated in a press release on Tuesday that the incident was reported to the Ilashe police division at about 7 pm.
According to him, emergency responders, including marine police and local divers, were swiftly mobilised to the scene and rescued 11 passengers who sustained injuries.
He added that the injured were rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention
The statement read, “On October 7, 2024, at about 7 pm, a distress call was received at the Ilashe Division reporting that two unregistered passenger boats, each carrying 16 passengers, allegedly collided in the middle of the lagoon at Imore town. As a result, the boats capsized, and the passengers drowned along with their goods.
“Based on the report, 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 and rushed to the Naval Hospital in Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention.”
In the meantime, other passengers remain unaccounted for, with Hundeyin confirming that efforts to recover their bodies are currently underway.
He further noted that an investigation into the incident is underway.