No fewer than eighteen (18) people lost their lives when an Egbin bound ferry capsized on Saturday, June 29, 2019.
Oriwu Sun gathered that the ill-fated boat, which was conveying passengers, including a pregnant woman who was among the dead, were on board the ferry which was said to have been hit by heavy waves.
There were three survivors in the incident while the rescue team of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) and Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) have been able to recover thirteen bodies as at the time of filling this report while the search for the missing passengers, including the driver of the boat, was ongoing.
Our reporter gathered that no one was putting on a life jacket as the said boat driver was not on duty and was just coming from where he had gone to repair his boat when the passengers allegedly begged him to take them to Egbin in Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ikorodu division.
The incident was confirmed by Ijede LCDA in a release signed by its Chief Press Secretary, Kabir Kareem, and circulated on the various social media platforms related to Ikorodu division.
“A passenger speedboat capsized yesterday, Saturday, June 29, 2019, around 9p.m, boat enrouted Egbin Jetty, Ijede, from Badore, twenty one (21) passengers on board, three (3) survivors, one (1) body recovered and others are yet to be recovered.
“Rescue mission by LASEMA and other relevant agencies still ongoing. Details later,” the release stated.
The ill-fated boat was reported to be in the custody of the Marine Police.
Meanwhile, Hon. Babajimi Benson, member, Federal House of Representatives, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, while reacting to the boat mishap on one of the social media platforms related to Ikorodu, described the incident as unfortunate and prayed that God should comfort the family of the deceased and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
While hoping that the search and rescue mission initiated for the remaining passengers end on a positive note, he urged concerned agencies of government to step up surveillance to ensure all operators of ferries put necessary safety precautions in place while making use of the waterways in order to safeguard people’s lives.
In the same vein, Hon. S. O. B. Agunbiade, the Majority Leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, sympathized with the people of Ijede and the families of those involved in the boat mishap.
He disclosed that investigation has began by appropriate authorities in the State to unravel the cause of the incident and expressed confidence that such unfortunate incident would be reduced to the bearest minimum if not completely eradicated soon as the safety of the people of Ikorodu and Lagos State is of paramount importance to the current administration in the State.