By Deborah Akpede
No fewer than 21 passengers are feared dead in a boat accident that occurred at Imore town in the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State.
Police spokesperson in Lagos State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Hundeyin said that the police received a distress call about the accident, on Monday.
“A distress call was received at Ilashe Division that two unregistered passenger boats, both having 16 passengers onboard, collided at the middle of the lagoon at Imore Town.
“In the process, the boats capsized and passengers got drowned with the goods,” he said.
The spokesperson said 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.
“The injured were rushed to Navy Hospital, Navy Town, Alakija, for medical attention, while search and rescue operation is being intensifiedwith a view to recovering bodies of victims,” the spokesperson said.
According to him, investigation is ongoing in the matter. (NAN)