Boat Mishap: 8 dead, 6 feared missing in Lagos

Lagos – Eight persons have been confirmed dead following a boat accident on Wednesday night during a trip between Eko Bridge and Ikorodu water ways in Lagos.

In the incident, 12 persons were rescued from the boat which had a total of 20 passengers on board.

Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, the Information Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the rescue operation began at about 8 p.m. and ended at about 11 p.m.

He said that although the boat took off at about 6 p.m. the incident was reported to NEMA by the boat company at about 8 p.m. when rescuers swung into action.

The NEMA spokesman said that the boat took off from Ebute-Ero on the Lagos Island for Majidun, near Ikorodu but capsized midway following a collision with a rock.

“A registered company, Bell Marine Company, owns the ill-fated boat,” Farinloye disclosed. (NAN)