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Death toll now six in Lagos boat accident

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The death toll in  Friday night’s boat accident in Lagos has risen to six with nine persons still missing, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said.

It said seven persons have rescued alive from the wreckage of the ill-fated boat on the Ebute Ero -Ikorodu waterway.

Transportation Commissioner  Frederic Oladeinde on a visit to the scene yesterday cautioned ferry operators against breaking laid down safety guidelines on waterways.

He said night travels are strictly forbidden.

The agency in an update last night on the accident said there were 22 persons on board, contrary to initial information.

Its capacity was  14 passengers and should not have sailed at night.

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According to the Public Affairs Officer (PAO) of LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor the deceased were all females while three men and four women were rescued.

He said rescuers suspended operation around 6:20 pm yesterday, adding that the search for the nine persons would continue today.

“So far, of the six dead adult females recovered at the Ipakodo ferry terminal and deposited in the Ikorodu General Hospital morgue, three are partly identified. One is Chidera, an undergraduate that studied International Relations awaiting her call-up letter, whose mother was amongst the survivors; Risi and Silifat.

“One of the survivors, Mrs. Ibikunle recounted her experience. They are all resident in Ikorodu. The boat captain and his assistant are among the missing persons. The deceased were deposited at Ikorodu General Hospital morgue.

“LASEMA Response Teams from Lekki and Agbowa, officers of the Nigeria Police Force Ipakodo division, LASAMBUS and LASWA officials were the responders present at the incident,” he said.

Commissioner reads riot act to ferry operators

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Transportation Commissioner  Frederic Oladeinde yesterday visited the scene of the accident and cautioned ferry operators against breaking laid down safety guidelines on waterways.

He said night travels are strictly forbidden.

“If the rule on  no night travelling on the waterways – from 6.00 p.m. – had been strictly adhered to by operators, the accident could have been averted,” the commissioner was quoted as saying by the  Head of Public Affairs of the ministry, Mrs.Bolanle Ogunlola

He added:

“the avoidable boat mishap occurred after a 20-passenger capacity commercial ferry with 21 passengers on board took off illegally from Èbúté ¸rÍ Jetty at past 8.00 p.m. heading toward Ikorodu.

“The ferry ran into an unforeseen object on the waterways, causing the boat to capsize.

“Rescue efforts deployed saved 16, five died, with one survivor in critical condition.”

The commissioner, who commiserated with the families of the dead passengers, gave the assurance that the violators would be prosecuted.

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