Three die, 11 rescued as boat capsizes in Lagos

Three persons drowned while 11 people were rescued when a 14-passenger boat sank around Ibeshe-Ikorodu waters in Lagos State.

The incident occurred at about 7:30 pm on Monday, February 26, 2024, when the boat suddenly developed a mechanical fault. 

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday. 

“The Agency responded to distress calls concerning a Passenger Boat which took off from Addax Jetty around 7 pm,” he said. 

“On arrival, it was discovered that a 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.

“Three passengers were retrieved dead and SEHMU has been tasked with transferring their bodies.”

An investigation into the cause of this mishap is being carried out by LASWA and other relevant authorities.