No fewer than 21 passengers have been reported drowned after two boats collided in Imore town, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The 21 passengers were among over 32 occupants and captains of both ill-fated boats that were engaged in the accident that has thrown the entire state in fears.
As gathered on Tuesday, the mishap occurred at about 7 pm yesterday midway into the journey to their various destination.
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.
