The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has confirmed that 15 persons lost their lives in another Lagos boat mishap in Badagry area of the state on Wednesday with four persons rescued from the accident scene.
One of the passengers is said to be missing and being searched for as stated by NIWA.
Disclosing this in an official preliminary report by NIWA Area Manager for Lagos Office, Sarat Braimah said that the accident was a result of mechanical fault in the engine of a passenger boat, Mount Zion, conveying 20 passengers including two crew members.
According to the report, the accident was caused by engine failure which resulted in the skipper losing control of the steering to a very strong current that forced the boat to drift and capsized under a ramp barge.
The report added that the ill-fated boat left Liverpool Jetty in Apapa at about 5pm on Wednesday and picked other passengers at Kirikiri enroute Gbaji Yeke after Badagry long bridge at about 5:15pm.
The mishap occurred in some few meters away from the take-off point at Kirikiri, at about 17:30Hours.
“The area office was contacted and informed about the accident at about 18:10Hours and the Area Manager ordered the Search and Rescue Team of the Area Office to mobilize to the scene immediately.
“On getting to the scene, and in conjunction with the locals on ground, the rescue operation continued till 20:30hours before it was suspended till the following day. The dead victims were handed over to the Marine Police, to be deposited in the Morgue. While those rescued alive were administered the required first aid.
The area has been cordoned off and the loading point at Kirikiri has been temporarily suspended.
